Increased fire risk today in Hampton Roads following 3 high-profile blazes this week – The Virginian-Pilot

Hampton Roads will have an increased risk of fire Wednesday, prompting the National Weather Service to advise caution when using anything that could be an ignition source.

Conditions will be favorable for fires into the evening. Fire risk is due to forecasted wind gusts of 25-35 mph from north to northwest and a relative humidity between 20 and 25% for central Virginia and 25-35% in eastern Virginia, according to NWS.

Weather experts advise caution operating machinery, and using cigarettes or matches. Materials that are smoking should be properly discarded.

“Any dry grasses and tree litter that ignite will have the potential to spread quickly,” reads a statement from NWS.

Open burning is prohibited prior to 4 p.m. each day through April 30 for Virginia residents.

Three fires have broken out in high-profile places in Hampton Roads this week. One burned 20 acres of a Virginia Beach golf course Tuesday night, another heavily damaged an administrative building at Hampton University on Monday afternoon, and earlier Monday a warehouse at Langley Air Force Base caught fire.

The causes of these fires have not been determined.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com