The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Wednesday, advising that the weather was conducive to the spread of brush fires.

Sure enough, volunteers were called out on several incidents in Monroe and Carbon counties.

Gary Hoffman, director of communications for the Monroe County Control Center said that the center dispatched fire departments to 14 brush fires on Wednesday.

“The primary cause of the fires is people not recognizing the danger and burning,” Hoffman said. “One incident of a tree falling on wires, the wires hit the ground and started the fire.”

Hoffman jokingly said he had hoped for rain and a relaxing day, but he did not get his wish.

“Forty mile an hour winds and low humidity both attributed to take the fires out of control much quicker,” he said of Wednesday’s fires.

While the winds are much calmer today, the low humidity still poses a risk.

Chestnuthill Township instituted a burn ban early Thursday morning after consulting with West End Volunteer Fire Chief Don Zipp.

Zipp said Chestnuthill had three fires Wednesday and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was busy Wednesday afternoon.

Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company responded to a fire in Towamensing Township on Wednesday.

“These weather conditions are optimum for brush fires,” said Polk Fire Chief Billy Tippett. “It’s best not to burn. Make sure if you do that you have caps on your outside burners because sparks can easily start a fire.”

While Polk has not instituted a burn ban as of this report, Tippett still suggests that residents check with the township before burning.

Gary Williams, director of the Carbon County Communications Center, said crews battled brush fires along Trachsville Hill Road in Towamensing Township, Mahoning Drive East in Mahoning Township and behind the Blakeslee Boulevard Diner.

Of those, Williams said the biggest one was about a half acre along Trachsville Hill Road, which required mutual aid to assist.

“I think the crews got them pretty quickly for how the wind was,” Williams said.

He cautioned that heavy winds can result in swift-moving brush fires.

“When the wind’s going, a brush fire can take off,” he said. “People’ve got to be cautious when they light a match when it’s a windy day.”

Williams said Penn Forest Fire Company No. is on a burn ban.

He said some tree damage resulted from the fires.