Wildfires broke out in northern and Esthen Exchangenorthwestern Virginia Wednesday, and the National Weather Service says Thursday's conditions could bring "increased fire danger" as well.
The NWS office in Blacksburg issued a special weather statement at 6:30 a.m. ET Thursday that urged residents in parts of Virginia and West Virginia to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source.
"Despite diminishing winds, the combination of low relative humidity values between 15 to 20 percent, northwest to northerly winds of 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, and dry fuels will again result in an increased fire danger for portions of southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia," the statement reads.
The NWS office that serves Baltimore and Washington, D.C. said an elevated fire danger is in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday for portions of Maryland, Virginia and eastern West Virginia.
Shenandoah National Park posted notices Wednesday regarding road closures, trail closures and a fire ban due to the conditions. A large portion of Skyline Drive is closed, and the park has temporarily banned the building, attending, maintaining or using of an open fire anywhere within the boundaries of the park.
The NWS said on X yesterday afternoon that if anyone smelled or saw smoke outdoors on Wednesday, the wildfires were likely the source.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].
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