9:23 a.m. - Watauga County firefighters have had their hands full today with three brush fires.

The first fire was in Matney early this afternoon.  Firefighters have that fire under control.

A second fire was reported around 4:45 p.m. off Browns Chapel Road in Deep Gap.  Watauga County Dispatch said firefighters are still at the scene.

Firefighters are still in Foscoe fighting a third fire off Highway 105.  Watauga County Dispatch said that call came in around 7:20 this evening.

Fire Prevention Specialist with the Boone Fire Department, Matthew Crawford, said residents should not burn anything because the dry and windy conditions are creating a serious fire hazard across the region.  He said this weekend’s low humidity will cause an escalated fire hazard over the next several days.

Crawford explained if firefighters have to keep responding to preventable brush fires, it may cause delays in response to other emergencies where lives are at risk.