Indianapolis, IN – A stretch of dry weather combined with gusty winds and very low humidity will create an elevated fire danger across central and southern Indiana today. The National Weather Service says any outdoor fire could spread rapidly during peak afternoon heating.
According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, the elevated fire risk extends across a wide portion of the state, including counties such as Carroll, Tippecanoe, Clinton, Howard, Montgomery, Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Delaware, Marion, Hancock, Hendricks, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Rush, Bartholomew, Monroe, Greene, Vigo, Sullivan, Knox, Daviess, and Jennings, among others.
Forecasters expect wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph, paired with relative humidity of just 15–25%, to create conditions favorable for fire ignition and spread. The driest air is expected mid- to late afternoon, aligning with the period of strongest winds.
Recent dry weather has left grasses, brush, and leaf litter highly susceptible to ignition. Even small sparks from machinery, burn piles, or discarded smoking materials may start fires that grow quickly.
According to the NWS, fire danger will be highest from late morning through early evening, especially in open fields, wooded edges, and rural areas surrounding Indianapolis, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Bloomington, Columbus, Kokomo, and Muncie.
Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning, monitor any heat sources, and use caution with equipment that could throw sparks. Fire officials say today’s environment could make otherwise manageable fires difficult to control.
