Windy, dry weather increases 'fire spread' risk on LI

Long Island faces an "enhanced risk of fire spread" Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said in a special statement.

Northwesterly winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, along with relative humidity levels in the 20s, will cause fine fuels to dry this afternoon, the service said.

Fine fuels would include grasses and smaller bushes, said Joe Pollina, weather service meteorologist in Upton. Driest conditions are generally seen in afternoon hours, he said, when the day's highest temperatures affect relative humidity.

With these favorable conditions for the "rapid spread of brush fires," anyone who spots a fire or plume of smoke is advised to "immediately" report it, the service said.