Skip to content

NWS: Warning issued for critical fire conditions in Gloucester, Mathews, James City counties Thursday

  • Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St....

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St. in Phoebus for a fire that started in the rear of the building Tuesday night.

  • A fire Tuesday night fire caused a roof collapse at...

    Joe Fudge/Daily Press

    A fire Tuesday night fire caused a roof collapse at the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh section of Newport News.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Hampton fire personnel work on making sure a fire in...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel work on making sure a fire in the rear of an old antique store on East Mellen St. in Phoebus is completely out Tuesday night.

  • Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. An off-duty Newport News police officer called in the blaze and helped evacuate the occupants. The fire was called in at 8:22 a.m. Units arrived at 8:29 a.m.to find heavy smoke and flames at the scene. The fire was called under control at 8:38 a.m.

  • Newport News firefighters extinguish a fire at the vacant Wynnwood Plaza Hotel...

    Jim Gower (Newport News Fire Department)

    Newport News firefighters extinguish a fire at the vacant Wynnwood Plaza Hotel Jan. 10, 2018.

  • Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding to fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Lori Fernandez is reunited with her dog Minnie after it...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Lori Fernandez is reunited with her dog Minnie after it was pulled from her burned out home in the Cambridge Apartment complex in Hampton Thursday.

  • Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in...

    Jonathon Black / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Newport News firefighters battled a blaze at a cell phone...

    Newport News Fire Department

    Newport News firefighters battled a blaze at a cell phone tower behind Heritage High School at 5800 Marshall Ave. just before noon Tuesday.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St....

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St. in Phoebus for a fire that started in the rear of the building Tuesday night.

  • The Newport News Fire Department is on scene of a...

    Sarah Ketchum/Daily Press photo

    The Newport News Fire Department is on scene of a major electrical failure at Anderson's Showplace, an official said.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Members of Hampton Fire and Rescue team investigate a vehicle...

    Adam Pennavaria / Daily Press

    Members of Hampton Fire and Rescue team investigate a vehicle fire at the PODS Warehouse in Hampton on Thursday, August 13, 2015.

  • Newport News firefighter-medics respond to a fire at a Walgreens at...

    Sarah J. Ketchum / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighter-medics respond to a fire at a Walgreens at Jefferson Avenue and Denbigh Boulevard the afternoon of Sept. 24, 2015.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews...

    Joe Fudge / Daily Press

    The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews and the N.N. Fire Marshall working around, on top of the building to try to find the cause of the fire. Last night the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh area of Newport News caved in during a two-alarm fire Tuesday after 8pm. Sept. 27th., 2017

  • The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews...

    Joe Fudge / Daily Press

    The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews and the N.N. Fire Marshall working around, on top of the building to try to find the cause of the fire. Last night the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh area of Newport News caved in during a two-alarm fire Tuesday after 8pm. Sept. 27th., 2017

  • Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in...

    Jonathon Black / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding to fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Members of Hampton Fire and Rescue team investigate a vehicle...

    Adam Pennavaria / Daily Press

    Members of Hampton Fire and Rescue team investigate a vehicle fire at the PODS Warehouse in Hampton on Thursday, August 13, 2015.

  • Hampton fire personnel come out of a building at 34...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel come out of a building at 34 East Mellen St. Tuesday evening. A fire started in apartments in the rear of the building.

  • Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Newport News Fire Department responds to a fire at Anderson's...

    Courtesy of Newport News Fire Department

    Newport News Fire Department responds to a fire at Anderson's Home and Garden Showplace.

  • Hampton firefighters work on knocking out hotspots after a fire...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters work on knocking out hotspots after a fire in the Cambridge Apartments Thursday.

  • Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News Early Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

  • Hampton firefighters work on knocking out hotspots after a fire...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters work on knocking out hotspots after a fire in the Cambridge Apartments Thursday.

  • A family of six was displaced after their Newport News...

    Andrea Castillo/Daily Press

    A family of six was displaced after their Newport News home caught fire Wednesday night.

  • Hampton firefighters are responding to a fire at the Waffle...

    Sarah Ketchum / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters are responding to a fire at the Waffle House in the 1800 block of W. Mercury Blvd.

  • Newport News Fire Marshalls working the areas inside and outside...

    Joe Fudge/Daily Press

    Newport News Fire Marshalls working the areas inside and outside the Plaza Azteca on Jefferson Ave. Wedneday morning, Sept. 27, 2017 after a devastating fire on Tuesday night.

  • The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews...

    Joe Fudge / Daily Press

    The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews and the N.N. Fire Marshall working around, on top of the building to try to find the cause of the fire. Last night the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh area of Newport News caved in during a two-alarm fire Tuesday after 8pm. Sept. 27th., 2017

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters respond to the scene of a fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews...

    Joe Fudge / Daily Press

    The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews and the N.N. Fire Marshall working around, on top of the building to try to find the cause of the fire. Last night the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh area of Newport News caved in during a two-alarm fire Tuesday after 8pm. Sept. 27th., 2017

  • Hampton fire personnel were called to East Mellen St. in...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel were called to East Mellen St. in Phoebus for a fire in one of the buildings near the intersection of Hope St. Tuesday night.

  • Newport News firefighter-medics respond to a fire at a Walgreens at...

    Sarah J. Ketchum / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighter-medics respond to a fire at a Walgreens at Jefferson Avenue and Denbigh Boulevard the afternoon of Sept. 24, 2015.

  • Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St....

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St. in Phoebus for a fire that started in the rear of the building Tuesday night.

  • Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. An off-duty Newport News police officer called in the blaze and helped evacuate the occupants. The fire was called in at 8:22 a.m. Units arrived at 8:29 a.m.to find heavy smoke and flames at the scene. The fire was called under control at 8:38 a.m.

  • Suffolk firefighters are battling a blaze at Hampton Roads Sanitation District...

    Theresa Clift/Daily Press

    Suffolk firefighters are battling a blaze at Hampton Roads Sanitation District Nansemond Wastewater Treatment Plant at 6909 Armstead Road in northern Suffolk. The fire was reported shortly before 3 p.m., said Suffolk spokeswoman Diana Klink. The smoke was visible from the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.

  • A destroyed roof sits atop the Plaza Azteca restaurant in...

    Joe Fudge/Daily Press

    A destroyed roof sits atop the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh section of Newport News Wednesday morning, Sept. 27, 2017 after heavy fire destroyed much of the structure on Tuesday evening.

  • Hampton Fire & Rescue is on scene of a house...

    Sarah Ketchum / Daily Press

    Hampton Fire & Rescue is on scene of a house fire in the first block of E. Lewis Road

  • Newport News firefighter-medics respond to a fire at a Walgreens at...

    Sarah J. Ketchum / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighter-medics respond to a fire at a Walgreens at Jefferson Avenue and Denbigh Boulevard the afternoon of Sept. 24, 2015.

  • A fire at a home in the 1100 block of...

    Sarah J. Ketchum/Daily Press

    A fire at a home in the 1100 block of Victoria Avenue in Hampton early Wednesday morning displaced 10 people, fire officials said.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News Early Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

  • Hampton fire personnel make sure a fire that started in...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel make sure a fire that started in apartments in the rear of 34 East Mellen St. is completely out Tuesday night.

  • Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. An off-duty Newport News police officer called in the blaze and helped evacuate the occupants. The fire was called in at 8:22 a.m. Units arrived at 8:29 a.m.to find heavy smoke and flames at the scene. The fire was called under control at 8:38 a.m.

  • Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St....

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton fire personnel were called to 34 East Mellen St. in Phoebus for a fire that started in the rear of the building Tuesday night.

  • A destroyed roof sits atop the Plaza Azteca restaurant in...

    Joe Fudge/Daily Press

    A destroyed roof sits atop the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh section of Newport News Wednesday morning, Sept. 27, 2017 after heavy fire destroyed much of the structure on Tuesday evening.

  • Workers get busy with the clean-up at the Plaza Azteca...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Workers get busy with the clean-up at the Plaza Azteca on Jefferson Ave.Friday September 29, 2017 that burned on Tuesday evening. The plan right now is to restore the building and reopen the restaurant.

  • The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews...

    Joe Fudge / Daily Press

    The morning after the fire, Newport News Fire Dept. crews and the N.N. Fire Marshall working around, on top of the building to try to find the cause of the fire. Last night the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh area of Newport News caved in during a two-alarm fire Tuesday after 8pm. Sept. 27th., 2017

  • Pugsley the dog is returned to her owner Lori Fernandez...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Pugsley the dog is returned to her owner Lori Fernandez after it was pulled for her burned out home in the Cambridge Apartments Thursday.

  • Hampton Firefighter Daniel Arsenault of Tower #1 Truck enjoys the...

    Joe Fudge / Daily Press

    Hampton Firefighter Daniel Arsenault of Tower #1 Truck enjoys the breeze of a fan to cool down after the fire fighting a house fire shortly before midday Thursday, July 13, 2017. Crews responded shortly after 10:15 a.m. to the home in the 2100 block of N. Mallory Street, Battalion Chief Craig Topping said at the scene. They arrived and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the two-story home, he said.

  • Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News Early Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

  • Hampton firefighters work on knocking out hotspots after a fire...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighters work on knocking out hotspots after a fire in the Cambridge Apartments Thursday.

  • Workers get busy with the clean-up at the Plaza Azteca...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Workers get busy with the clean-up at the Plaza Azteca on Jefferson Ave.Friday September 29, 2017 that burned on Tuesday evening. The plan right now is to restore the building and reopen the restaurant.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Newport News firefighters work on knocking out a fire at the Plaza Azteca Restaurant on Jefferson Ave. north of Denbigh Blvd. Tuesday evening September 20, 2017.

  • Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding to fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding...

    Jonathon Gruenke / Daily Press

    Hampton firefighter Jessica Firth provides oxygen to cat after responding to fire in the 100 block of Friendly Drive in the apartment complex Abbington at Northampton Tuesday October 13, 2015.

  • Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged by flames from an external structure fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News Early Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

  • Most of the damage to the Jefferson Ave. Plaza Azteca...

    Rob Ostermaier / Daily Press

    Most of the damage to the Jefferson Ave. Plaza Azteca that burned on Tuesday September 29, 2017 was to the roof. The plan right now is to restore the building and reopen the restaurant.

  • A fire Tuesday night fire caused a roof collapse at...

    Joe Fudge/Daily Press

    A fire Tuesday night fire caused a roof collapse at the Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Denbigh section of Newport News.

  • Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at...

    Adrin Snider / Daily Press

    Two homes were damaged after external structures caught fire at 263 Sherbrooke Drive in Newport News on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. An off-duty Newport News police officer called in the blaze and helped evacuate the occupants. The fire was called in at 8:22 a.m. Units arrived at 8:29 a.m.to find heavy smoke and flames at the scene. The fire was called under control at 8:38 a.m.

of

Expand
Author
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

Areas of the upper and middle Peninsula are under a National Weather Service “Red Flag Warning” because of critical fire weather conditions.

The warning, in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday, covers Gloucester, Mathews and James City County, and stretches to the north and western areas of the state.

“Gusty winds, low relative humidity and low fuel moistures will combine to create an environment conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires,” the warning states. “All outdoor burning should be avoided. Any wildfires that start will spread rapidly and will be difficult to control.”

The northern areas of the Virginia Peninsula and the Middle Peninsula are covered by a National Weather Service “Red Flag Warning” April 12, 2018. The warning was issued because there are criticial fire weather conditions.

Relative humidity is at just 25 to 30 percent, and southwest winds are gusting as high as 35 mph.

A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for the rest of the Peninsula area and Southside Hampton Roads.

There is an increased risk for fires in southeast Maryland, northeast North Carolina, eastern Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia, the outlook states.

“Residents are urged to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source…including machinery… cigarettes…and matches,” officials said in the statement.

“Be sure to properly discard all smoking materials. Any dry grasses and tree litter that ignite will have the potential to spread quickly,” officials said.

Open burning is illegal in Virginia before 4 p.m. each day through April 30th.