A red flag warning for fire concerns along the Front Range, including Denver, has been posted by the National Weather Service.
The warning starts at 11 a.m. and is posted through 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the weather service. It covers an area along the Interstate 25 corridor from Boulder to Trinidad, including Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
Strong west winds are expected to develop Thursday morning with humidity dropping as the day progresses, according to the weather service. The combination of strong winds, up to 40 mph, and relative humidity as low as 15% has prompted the warning.
Snow cover on the ground remains in some areas, but there are “plenty of fuels, including brush and grass that is exposed and dried out during the winter season” that can quickly spread fire, said Caitlyn Mensch, a weather service meteorologist.
Weather conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread, according to the warning. People are urged to avoid outdoor burning as well as activities that produce sparks.
