The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather caution because fires could result from the warm, dry, windy conditions for much of the Tri-state region.

"There's hazardous conditions for fire," said meteorologist John Darnley. "But," he said, "[the alert] applies mostly to forestry people."

Mr. Darnley and the Weather Service said the advisory is directed at much of Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia in the panhandle and northwestern part of the state.

The key, Mr. Darnley said, is the "low fuel moisture" -- trees and foliage are natural fire fuels that are more combustible in this region because rainfall has been more than 2 inches below average for the year and they are drier than usual.

Temperatures have been higher than normal, and the dew points have been low.

Any spark in these conditions could lead to a hazardous fire, the Weather Service cautions.

Though it's not a warning, prescribed burnings should not be done in forestry work, nor by residents who, in rural areas, burn leaves and brush routinely.

Should conditions become more hazardous, particularly when the winds kick up, the Weather Service said a "red flag" warning would be issued to include a ban on all camp fires and controlled burns.

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