With humidity levels at 20% and surface winds gusting to 25 miles per hour, the Hot Springs Fire Department warns that the fire threat in Hot Springs is at a high level.

Hot Springs Fire Department Chief Ed Davis urges everyone to be careful when bush hogging and to use great care when performing any activity that could cause a spark or a fire. Please report any smoke or open burning that you see by calling 911 as soon as possible.

Counties just to the north of Hot Springs and Garland County have been placed under a Red Flag Warning, which means they are under extreme fire danger.

These conditions will exist through Friday, Oct. 14. Severe to extreme drought conditions persist over portions of the state. Rainfall is expected this weekend which may temper the fire threat, but drought and some fire danger will persist through next week.

Hot Springs and Garland County remain under burn bans, along with most of the rest of the state.