There is an increased risk of rapid fire spread in southeastern Pennsylvania today, according to an alert from the National Weather Service.
The alert, issued early Friday morning, states that there is a fire risk for eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey through 7 p.m.
Counties in Pennsylvania included in the alert are Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Delaware, Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks.
Counties in New Jersey included in the alert are Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, western Monmouth, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, northwestern Burlington, Ocean, Cumberland, Atlantic and southeastern Burlington.
Officials cite minimum relative humidity levels of 25% to 35%, southerly winds of 10 to 15 mph, temperatures nearing 80 degrees and dry conditions as factors in issuing the alert.
Any fire that ignites could spread rapidly and quickly become difficult to control, the alert says.
The alert states that outdoor burning is strongly discourage, and reminds people to properly extinguish or dispose of any potential ignition sources such as cigarette butts.
