‘Postpone burns’ Tuesday as area enters ‘Near Critical Fire Danger’ TWS says

KANKAKEE — The National Weather Service (NWS) says the area is in a “near critical fire danger” on Tuesday.

The area listed at risk for the warning includes Kankakee, Iroquois, Grundy, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Livingston, Lee, Ford, Cook and Will counties.

NWS says the risk is in part due to very dry air and breezy conditions throughout the day.  Winds are expected to increase and peak later Tuesday afternoon.

According to NWS, the area along I-55 is especially susceptible to the heighten threat and will drop later Tuesday once winds calm.   The service is asking area residents to exercise extreme care with open flames during this time and the disposal of smoking materials and postpone any plans for burning in the area.