Sparta-Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department

04/24/2026

If you notice a hazy sky or smell smoke in NC on Friday or Saturday, it's likely from wildfires in south GA.

Air quality in the Triad is code yellow today.

04/08/2026

The North Carolina fire risk is increasing. Sunday's rain lowered the threat early this week. Dry air and gusty winds will raise the risk for spreading fires to very high in the NC mountains and foothills Wednesday.
www.wxii12.com/weather

03/28/2026

Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/28/statewide-burn-ban-issued-north-carolina-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions

03/28/2026

Effective Saturday, March 28 at 8 a.m., the National Weather Service has issued a ** 🚩🚩RED FLAG WARNING🚩🚩** for some North Carolina counties. For counties that aren’t under a red flag, fire danger is still critical. Review weather alerts for North Carolina at weather.gov.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create dangerous fire behavior.

While open burning is permitted during a red flag, it is NOT advised. Please postpone ALL outdoor burning. If there was ever a time to show you can follow instructions the first time they are given, it’s now.

Careless debris burning is the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina, and you are our best defense against wildfire. For wildfire readiness and prevention tips: preventwildfirenc.org

03/25/2026

Increased Risk of Wildfire Due to High to Extreme Fire Danger -- March 25, 2026

What does high fire danger mean for you today?

🎯Fires can start from the smallest spark.
🎯Dry conditions and wind increase fire spread.
🎯Everyday activities carry more risk right now.

Avoid burning, and be cautious with anything that could cause a spark.

Contact your N.C. Forest Service county ranger's office for guidance.
ncforestservice.gov/contacts

Spread prevention, not wildfire.

02/06/2026

🥶

High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories have been issued from Friday evening to Saturday evening due to strong wind gusts. The strongest gusts, up to 60 mph, will be along the Blue Ridge and in Western Greenbrier.

01/29/2026

01/22/2026

Bad news. Our snow chance is going down, and ice chance is going up this weekend.

We may get a little bit of snow in the very beginning Saturday afternoon, but after that, sleet and freezing rain take over.

Unfortunately, this is starting to look like a full-on ice storm...

01/22/2026

I'm becoming very concerned about the ice threat this weekend.

Sleet and freezing rain look to be the predominant precip type here in the Piedmont.

Significant amounts are possible, which could be damaging and cause widespread power outages that last for days.

01/15/2026

The following is a briefing from the NWS Blacksburg office as of Thursday January 15, 2026 4:22 AM.

Threats: Gusty winds and Cold Wind Chills

Location: NC High Country, Southern Blue Ridge counties in Virginia, and Western Greenbrier county in West Virginia

Timing:
Today through Friday Morning

Overview and Impacts:
Northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph gusting up to 50 mph across the higher elevations along and west of the Blue Ridge. These winds may cause down trees and power poles leading to the potential for power outages.
The passage of an Arctic front yesterday has brought the combination of strong gusty winds and cold temperatures to the area, with mountain locations primarily above 4500 feet expected to see wind chills of -5 to -10 degrees. Other high terrain locations west of the Blue Ridge look to see values in the single digits to near 0.
Mountain snow showers should be coming to an end by this afternoon, with light snow flurries expected to continue through the evening.
Accumulating snow could cause slick road conditions
Cold Weather Advisories is in effect for western Greenbrier County, and Ashe, Watauga, and Grayson counties
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for western Greenbrier County through this afternoon
Wind Advisories are in effect for western Greenbrier county, and the high country of NC and southern Blue Ridge counties in Virginia.