The Smokey Bear sign on Barnes Road has switched from moderate to high as dry leaves and strong winds create the perfect conditions for brush fires to spread. As a result, Island fire chiefs issued an outdoor open flame ban.

Alex Schaeffer, the Edgartown fire chief and president of the Dukes County Fire Chiefs Association, said preventing fires is a partnership with the broader community. He urged residents to avoid using open flames outside, whether lighting cigarettes, using an outdoor grill, sitting around a fire pit or leaving power equipment plugged in after use.

“Over the weekend, we had a lawn tractor catch on fire in somebody’s yard, and that contributed to some leaves catching on fire in a very small area...” Mr. Schaeffer said. “That’s a wild land type brush situation, but that was started by a combination of leaves and a piece of machinery.”

He said small fires like the one over the weekend can escalate, especially in non-populated areas.

West Tisbury Fire Chief Gregory Pachico echoed Mr. Schaeffer’s concern and added that while the warm weather entices people to go outside more, refraining from flame use is necessary to keep the community safe.

“We’ve had some really warm weather, so it feels nice [for people] to go outside and light up their fire pits....” Mr. Pachico said. “But people really need to refrain away from that. That’s where problems can happen.”

Mr. Pachico said that for those living in heavily wooded areas raking dry leaves on the ground and out from under the porch could help protect personal property in the event a fire should break out. Cleaning gutters and trimming low hanging branches could also prevent damage.

The warning will last at least for another couple of weeks, Mr. Pachico said until there’s steady rainfall. In the meantime, the public needs to be extra cautious.