Fire Safety – What Exactly Is a Red Flag Warning?

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Red Flag Warning in Colorado: What do they mean?

Heightened temperatures, drier environments and a serious lack of precipitation this year have already made an impact on the summer fire season. At WMG, our neighborhoods and families come first, so this summer we are promoting fire safety within our beautiful communities by helping everyone become aware of Red Flag warnings and what they mean.  Here are some tips to help:

  • We have all seen Red Flag warnings before, but that doesn’t mean we always know what they entail.  The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management explains, “The National Weather Service issues the warnings when critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent.  The Red Flag Warning is posted on the NOAA website and is specific to your county or zip code.  Many Colorado county and city agencies provide updates on Red Flag Warnings and other National Weather Service alerts on their websites or Twitter feeds.” Postings on social media and websites allow everyone to stay up to date on the warnings in their area including any necessary precautions or emergency measures up to and including evacuation if necessary.
  • With Red Flag warnings, precautionary and preparedness actions are often required as this warning signals fires that may be difficult to contain or that may spread quickly and burn with intensity. Long dry spells, low humidity, high winds and elevated temperatures are all factors that go into whether a Red Flag warning is issued. Outdoor fire bans may be put into effect including campfires, grills, smoking outdoors and explosives or fireworks. It is imperative with the holiday coming up and more people camping and spending time in nature that we all know what the current fire restrictions are for our communities and that we are following the rules. The safety and preservation of our state is much more important than an impulsive decision that may cost us all so much later.
  • The good news is, we can all take steps to promote fire safety within our communities. We recently covered tips for homeowners on how to mitigate fire risk and better protect their property from wildfire risk. Local fire crews are available for consultations and there are even tax credits available to homeowners who do their part to reduce fire risk. Pay attention to what is going on around you and don’t be afraid to speak up if you see something unusual! Our beautiful home and our courageous firefighters depend on us to do our part to keep our state and communities safe.

Source:
http://www.coemergency.com/2012/04/red-flag-warningswhat-do-they-mean.html
http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=red+flag+warning