'Red Flag' fire warning for Florida over fears 'extreme' blaze could hit major city
A big chunk of The Sunshine State has been told to remain vigilant after NOAA's warning that the conditions were ideal for fires to break out in Florida
Large swathes of Florida have been given a ‘Red Flag Warning’ over fears a blaze could engulf a major city. It comes as Trump caught out as he's overheard making outrageous brag to his friends.
The advisory, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), revealed that a sizeable chunk of central Florida could potentially go up in flames if a fire caught hold today. The warning lasts from 1pm to 7pm on Friday. Critically, it covers the city of Orlando, which is home to 2.6m people.
NOAA urged residents to remain vigilant, stating: “Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Meanwhile, Trump suffers a mental collapse after a 'senile' moment on stage in the middle of a speech.
Which areas are being impacted by Florida's Red Flag Warning?
NOAA has said several areas of Florida are affected by the warning. These include Inland Volusia, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Coastal Volusia, Southern Lake, Inland Northern Brevard, Mainland Northern Brevard, and Northern Brevard Barrier Islands.
READ MORE: Salmon will come out the air fryer juicer and crispier if coated with 1 simple ingredientREAD MORE: Humiliated Trump exploded after White House mistakenly set up call with official he firedMajor urban areas that could be hit by a potential fire outbreak besides Orlando include Daytona Beach, home to around 85,000 people, Meadow Wood, where over 40,000 people reside, and Deltona, where almost 100,000 people live. The warning area stretches around 150 miles from North to South and around 100 miles from East to West at its widest.
Why has the Florida warning been issued?
NOAA said the warning had been released as a “combination of strong winds” and “low relative humidity” along with warm temperatures had created an elevated risk of fires.
Across the affected regions, there are expected to be 15 to 25mph gusts of wind, which could help a fire spread speedily. Meanwhile, humidity is set to be around 30% to 34%, which will make the ground and foliage dryer than normal for this time of year. Orlando is set to hit highs of 85F and lows of 60F.
For how long is the warning in place?
The warning will last for around six hours, starting at 1pm on Friday and ending at 7pm. Following this period, the warning will lift.
'Extreme fire' puts Floridians at risk.
NOAA explains: ‘A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.’
It further tells residents: “If you are allowed to burn in your area, all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch… Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and become a wildfire.
“Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it… Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.”