A drought, low humidity and high winds have combined to create perfect conditions for unintentional fires to spark and spread. The NC Forest Service has issued a “Red Flag-- do not burn warning” as a result of these hazardous fire conditions. The Burlington Fire Department asks that citizens exercise extreme caution when disposing of hot items such as cigarette butts, fire place ashes or charcoal. Properly cooling these items with water and then using proper receptacles for disposal will dramatically decrease the likelihood of starting unintentional fires. A single cigarette can easily ignite a fire that results in the loss of property and life. Controlled burning within City Limits is never permitted without special authorization from the Fire Department and those authorizations will be withheld as long as dangerous conditions remain. Please call the Fire Department at 229-3577 for additional information about hazardous fire conditions and preventing unintentional fires.