Firefighters battled a large brush fire today on the 1800 block of Army Navy Drive, in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood near Pentagon City.
Smoke from the fire, which broke out around 2 p.m. Wednesday, could be seen on traffic cameras along I-395. Initial reports suggest that a sizable, quickly spreading brush fire burned a shed, several power poles and a number of trees, while threatening some homes.
A combination of dry conditions, wind and warm temperatures will raise the risk of brush fires today.
The National Weather Service just issued a Special Weather Statement warning of the extra fire danger.
Update at 10:25 p.m. — The bridge and the lanes have reopened.
Earlier: Northbound S. George Mason Drive is closed between S. Columbus Street and Four Mile Run Drive due to an outside fire.
Ash is falling on parts of Arlington and Fairfax County due to a “very large controlled burn” nearby.
“We live in Ballston and a few large pieces of ash have fallen in the past couple of minutes,” an ARLnow reader told us around 5 p.m.
An outdoor fire just north of Washington-Liberty High School prompted a large emergency response and shut down some roads Wednesday afternoon.
The fire, in a backyard along the 1500 block of N. Stafford Street, was reported around 2:30 p.m. The blaze started in a shed and spread to nearby trees and brush, according to scanner traffic.
Expect more dry weather and gusty winds this weekend, and an elevated fire danger as a result.
Humidity levels are low and falling, contributing to the brush fire risk. Already, across the river, D.C. firefighters battled a brush fire Saturday morning in Rock Creek Park.
Dry, windy conditions are expected Friday afternoon, bringing with it a brush fire danger.
The National Weather Service issued the following Special Weather Statement this morning, urging caution with flammable items outside today.
An ongoing lack of rain — three weeks and counting — combined with westerly winds will present a fire danger on Thursday.
Forecasters say the brush fires could spread quickly given the expected conditions tomorrow. Residents are being asked to carefully dispose of flammable items like cigarette butts and matches — and even to keep cars off of dry grass.
Update at 8:45 p.m. on 3/20/24: Due to the smoke, air quality in Arlington has reached moderately unhealthy levels, according to AirNow.gov.
Update at 5:30 p.m. on 3/20/24: A smoky haze has settled over Arlington amid multiple brush fires in parts of Northern Virginia and West Virginia. Small outdoor fires — mostly mulch fires — have also been reported in Arlington.
Arlington is not known as a hotspot for forest fires, but there’s an elevated danger of wildfires throughout Northern Virginia today.
Other parts of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia are also being warned of the fire hazard, owing to an ongoing drought, low humidity and breezy conditions.
Updated at 9:40 a.m. — The earlier watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning. From the National Weather Service:
…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR VIRGINIA, SOUTHERN MARYLAND, AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE…
Firefighters battled three separate brush fires along the GW Parkway during Monday evening’s commute.
The fires were first reported just before 6 p.m., and ultimately prompted a response of at least a half dozen units from the Arlington County, Montgomery County, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall fire departments.
