The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Red Flag fire warning for King County, including Bellevue, Issaquah and Sammamish, until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.

A combination of high winds and low humidity will quickly dry out light fuels, leading to an increased fire danger throughout the Puget Sound area. Wind gusts in the Cascade foothills are expected to peak upwards of 40 miles per hour Thursday afternoon, with humidity levels reaching into the 30 percent range.

A safety burn ban enacted by the King County Fire Marshal on July 14 remains in effect, prohibiting outdoor fires to burn debris, agricultural residue and some kinds of recreational fires.

For more information on the ban, visit www.kingcounty.gov/fire.