What Does A Red Flag Warning Mean For Michigan Residents?

I saw that today over two dozen counties across Michigan were under a red flag warning.

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At first I though the red flag warning had something to do with dangerous waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

a double red flag warning means that water access is closed and swimmers are not allowed to enter the water from the beach.

Red Flag Warning Issued For Michigan Due To High Fire Risk

For today's red flag warning, it wasn't about dangerous water conditions; instead, it was about why Michigan residents should avoid having fires and burning things.

Read More: 25 Things Michigan Is Known And Famous For

Paul Rogers, a fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, told Up North Live what caused today's red flag alert.

"It’s a combination of warm temperatures, relatively low humidity and winds gusting to 25 miles per hour."

DNR Shares Important Fire Safety Tips

The DNR shared some fire safety tips to keep in mind anytime you intend to burn leaves or yard debris in the future:

• First look online for a burn permit to make sure conditions are safe for burning in your area.

• Keep a hose or water source nearby whenever burning.

• Prevent sparks by keeping trailer chains from dragging and not parking hot equipment on dry grass.

• Don’t burn any plastic, foam, hazardous material, or household trash.

• Use a burn barrel with a screen on top to burn paper, leaves, and other natural materials.

A small fire can quickly spread and get out of hand, so heeding the warnings and following these fire safety tips is very important for your safety as well as the safety of others.