There are at least two color-based fire danger warning systems. Perhaps the best known warning is the Red Flag Warning issued by the local office of the National Weather Service when the day’s weather conditions are optimum for fires starting and spreading. The Red Flag Warning is used to inform the public, firefighters and land management agencies of dangerous fire conditions. Conditions that could prompt such a warning include low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels and the possibility of lightning strikes.Jeff Petersma, deputy chief of operations of the Falcon Fire Protection District, said a Red Flag Warning generates a higher level of response preparation. Depending on conditions, the department could increase the number of firefighters on duty and require firefighters to wear firefighting gear to reduce response time.While the National Weather Service Red Flag Warning is based on weather conditions, the U.S. Forest Service has a color coded National Fire Danger Rating System that takes into consideration other factors. It allows fire managers to estimate fire danger for a given area at a given time. It consists of five colors: green, blue, yellow, orange and red. Green is low fire dangeró fires that do not start easily. Blue is moderate danger ó fires can start from most natural causes, but with the exception of lightning in some areas, the number of starts is generally low. Yellow is high risk ó fires start easily from most causes. Orange is very high danger ó fires start easily from all causes and spread rapidly. Red is extreme danger ó fires start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely.Stay connected with the Falcon Fire Protection DistrictWebsite: http://www.falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDeptNextDoor.com
