ENHANCED FIRE DANGER IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA... Relative Humidity values will lower to between 28 to 35 percent through early this afternoon, before gradually recovering through early this evening. Light southwest winds will increase 8 to 12 mph, with gusts of around 20 mph this afternoon. This combination of gusty winds and lower relative humidity will bring an iNcreased threat of wildfire activity today. THE FALL FIRE SEASON FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IS DURING THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. FROM OCTOBER 15TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH...VIRGINIA LAW PROHIBITS OUTDOOR BURNING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF MIDNIGHT AND 4 PM AT ANY LOCATION IN OR WITHIN 300 FEET OF A WOODLAND OR BRUSHLAND AREA. WARM...YET DRY CONDITIONS OFTEN EXPERIENCED DURING THE FALL MONTHS...COMBINED WITH ABUNDANT DRY LEAVES AND DEAD GRASSES...CREATE AN ELEVATED FIRE RISK. ALL BURNING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF MIDNIGHT AND 4 PM DURING THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 15TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IN ADDITION...CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED TO PREVENT FIRES...SUCH AS AVOIDING SMOKING OUTDOORS IN FIRE PRONE AREAS...TAKING CARE TO PREVENT SPARKS FROM EQUIPMENT OR MACHINERY FROM TRIGGERING FIRE STARTS...EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF PLAYING WITH FIRE...AND ENSURING ALL LEGAL FIRES ARE PROPERLY SUPERVISED AND EXTINGUISHED. BURNING DURING WINDY CONDITIONS OR EXTREMELY DRY PERIODS SHOULD ALSO BE AVOIDED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON VIRGINIA FIRE LAWS...CONTACT THE VIRGINIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY OR YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.