Weather service puts central Indiana under Red Flag warning

Beginning  2 p.m. today, central Indiana will be under a Red Flag Warning, for increased fire danger, because of the combination of prolonged drought, increasingly low humidity and chance of winds, according to the National Weather Service, Indianapolis.

Wind will reach 20 mph today with gusts around 25 mph. Additionally, humidity will drop to 25 percent this afternoon. In response to the risk of fire, most counties in the state are still under a burn ban. The dry spell will continue through Friday.

The Indiana Fire Marshall and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources offer various safety tips to avoid potential fires:

Vehicles
Never park your vehicle on dry grass or leaves and avoid driving through tall grass.

Tobacco Products
Never throw a lit cigarette out the window of a vehicle or leave a burning cigarette unattended without the use of an ashtray.

Equipment
Perform proper maintenance on agricultural equipment to prevent overheating. Be careful with gas lanterns, barbecues, gas stoves and anything that can ignite a wildfire.

“The next chance for rain will arrive late this weekend,” according to the National Weather Service.

— Vince Zito