Crime & Safety
Fire Chief Bans Outdoor Burning Saturday, Elevated Fire Risk
There is an elevated risk of fire in Newport County on Saturday. Middletown Fire Department has issued a fire ban for Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for Newport County, stating that high pressure and dry conditions have elevated fire risk. Middletown and Portsmouth have issued bans on all outdoor burning on Saturday; outdoor fires in Newport are not allowed without a permit.
According to the statement, minimum afternoon relative humidity will drop to between 15 and 25 percent by early this afternoon. Northwest wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph are expected through midday.
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Officials have advised that fuels, grasses and leaf litter will be very susceptible to ignition. If a wild fire develops, it may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish
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