Community organizer Erika Yalowitz has suspended her campaign for the Virginia State Senate’s 37th District.
One of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, Yalowitz announced today (Thursday) that she is withdrawing from the race and will instead endorse her opponent, Saddam Azlan Salim, a financial consultant and vice president of the Fairfax Young Democrats.
After launching her campaign in February, Yalowitz says she has decided to work with Salim in a bid to defeat incumbent Chap Petersen, who has represented voters in the now-defunct 34th District since 2008.
“If we want to make progress on the issues we care about, such as gun safety, reproductive justice or housing affordability, we need to elect a different senator,” Yalowitz said in a statement. “That is why I am making the decision to suspend my campaign and endorse Saddam Salim in this race. Saddam is a good candidate that I know supports a lot of the same issues that I do.”
Yalowitz’s campaign has stopped accepting donations and will use its remaining funds to cover remaining expenses, such as staff compensation, she said in a message to supporters. She plans to give any funds leftover after that to Salim’s campaign.
Created by Virginia’s redistricting process in 2021, the new 37th Senate District incorporates Tysons, Merrifield and Falls Church City into the former 34th District’s boundaries, which included Vienna and Fairfax City.
An Arlington Circuit Court officer, Yalowitz lives in Tysons and has held leadership roles in several community organizations, including the Providence District Council, Tysons Community Alliance, and the Fairfax Federation. She also advocated for preserving Oakton’s Blake Lane Park when it was being eyed as a potential school site.
She previously ran for the Providence District seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2019.
Both Yalowitz and Salim have criticized Petersen for breaking with Democrats on issues like an assault weapons ban and marijuana legalization.
In a statement released by his campaign, Salim thanked his former opponent for her support:
I want to thank Erika Yalowitz for bringing a progressive voice into this campaign and advocating for important issues like reproductive rights, the fentanyl crisis, gun violence prevention and public education. I also want to thank her for her endorsement – I appreciate it deeply and I look forward to working with her on the campaign trail to give the people of the 37th District a new choice for the first time in sixteen years. Erika will have a great future in the Democratic Party and I look forward to supporting her wholeheartedly in her next endeavors.
Petersen said that he spoke Yalowitz earlier today and wishes her well, but her decision won’t affect his campaign for reelection.
“We’ll continue forward with a positive message focused on our constituents,” he told FFXnow.
Petersen has raised the most money of the 37th District candidates so far, as of Monday (April 17), when the campaign finance reports for the first three months of the year were due.
The Democratic primary will be held on June 20, with this year’s general election coming on Nov. 7. The lone Republican candidate is Ken Reid, a former Loudoun County supervisor.
Some more construction could be in store for the southwest corner of Chain Bridge Road and Tennyson Drive in McLean.
The owner of the McLean Professional Park is seeking to replace six buildings in the office complex with a five-story, 104-unit multifamily residential building, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on Monday (April 17).
The 2.8-acre site is sandwiched in between the McLean Commerce Center and Sunrise Senior Living’s upcoming McLean facility, which is currently under construction. Four low-rise office buildings on a 1.6-acre parcel at the back of the property and some surface parking will remain.
“The Applicant proposes a development that will enhance downtown McLean and provides an opportunity for additional residents to live in the downtown area [who] will benefit retail and restaurant establishments and ensure the vibrancy of the downtown,” Walsh Colucci lawyer Lynne Strobel said in a statement of justification for property owner T&M McLean Venture LLC.
Built in 1980, the buildings eyed for replacement range from two to three stories in height. Existing tenants include various fitness and wellness centers like Pilates of McLean, a law firm, a watch repair shop, and two schools, Principia Tutors and Kids Language Arts.
There’s no clear timeline for the redevelopment, which carries an estimated cost of around $80 million, T&M principal Jim Perry told the Washington Business Journal.
The 68-foot-tall residential building will have 92 market-rate and 12 workforce dwelling units in line with the county’s requirements. The units will be “a mix” of sizes with two or three bedrooms, though the application doesn’t indicate whether rental apartments or condominiums are planned.
The development plan provides 199 parking spaces, including 17 surface spaces behind the building and 182 spaces in an underground garage. The garage will have electric vehicle charging stations.
For residents, potential amenities include an elevated outdoor courtyard, an outdoor plaza lounge, fitness and conference centers, a dog spa, and a bicycle storage and maintenance room.
A proposed, 17,633-square-foot urban park along Chain Bridge Road will be publicly accessible and feature an open lawn, benches, cafe tables, walking paths and “artful shade structures,” per the plan.
As part of the project, the developer has offered to underground utilities along the site and improve Chain Bridge with a 6-foot-wide landscape amenity panel and an 11-foot-wide path, consisting of a 6-foot-wide sidewalk and a 5-foot-wide, one-way cycle track.
“Where possible given the underground utilities, a second row of trees in the building zone has been provided to provide shade over the Chain Bridge Road sidewalk,” Strobel wrote. “The shift to a more pedestrian-oriented site design, with underground parking is supportive of the [county’s] planning principles.”
As noted by the application, the proposal meets the “optional” level of development recommended by the county’s McLean Community Business Center comprehensive plan, which was rewritten in 2021.
The property lies in the approximately 54-acre “general zone,” which is intended to be midrise buildings as a transition between the more intense “center zone” and mostly residential “edge zone.” The plan allows for up to 3,150 dwelling units and 2.7 million square feet of residential uses in the general and center zones.
While movement to implement the plan was initially sluggish, construction recently began on a residential project at 6707 Old Dominion Drive that helped jumpstart the downtown McLean revitalization effort. Renovations of the Chesterbrook and Chain Bridge shopping centers are also in the works.
Retired CIA staffer Lisa Downing is challenging Jeff McKay for Fairfax County’s top governmental seat.
Last week, Dunn Loring resident Downing announced her candidacy to chair the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Running as a Democrat, she will face off in the June primary against current Chairman Jeff McKay, who was elected in 2019 after representing Franconia District (then called Lee District) on the board for over a decade.
A three-decade county resident, Downing worked for the Central Intelligence Agency prior to retiring in 2019. She was also the first woman of color to attend and graduate from New York Maritime College, where she studied the business of shipping and how to operate tankers.
She told FFXnow her bid for the county’s top seat is to provide residents another option.
“When I found out that there was only one person — the incumbent — running on the Democratic ticket for the primary, I thought that the residents of Fairfax weren’t being given a choice,” Downing said. “And, in America, we all need choices, even within the same party.”
The top issue she’s campaigning on is increasing funding for Fairfax County Public Schools, specifically teacher pay. Downing noted that pay for FCPS teachers and staff has fallen behind other neighboring jurisdictions like Arlington and Loudoun.
“We’re losing teachers. We’re not competitive. We haven’t put in the resources that our students and teachers need to thrive. So, schools are the number one concern for me,” she said. “If we don’t provide our residents with good schools, they will find other places to give their children education.”
Increasing the county’s housing inventory to boost affordable housing “for working class people” is another priority for Downing. She said it’s disheartening that so many people who serve the county — from firefighters to teachers to small business owners — can’t afford to live here.
“When you have townhomes and condos reasonably priced and a lot of them, it takes the pressure off the housing market. People are then able to afford the moderate priced homes,” she said. “We have concentrated so much on sweetheart deals for developers that only the big houses get built. That’s where the money is for the developers, but that’s not where the money is for Fairfax County.”
Downing confirmed she’s referring to a change in approach similar to the “Missing Middle” policies passed in Arlington last month, allowing multifamily structures to be built on single-family home lots.
To pay for these priorities, Downing says the tax base needs to increase. That doesn’t necessary mean raising taxes so much as increasing the number of residents who are paying taxes.
“We have a lot of taxes. Fairfax gets money through its taxes. The more people who live in the county, the larger our tax base,” she said.
Downing sharply criticized McKay and other county supervisors for increasing the board’s salaries, starting in January 2024. The supervisors who voted for the raises argued they were in line with how other county employees are compensated and will allow others to serve regardless of personal financial circumstances. During the public hearing, though, many residents spoke out against the increase.
“He and the Board of Supervisors voted to give themselves a huge raise, even after the teachers had not gotten a raise,” Downing told FFXnow. “And after an open session where people said, ‘No, no, no, you don’t deserve that raise,’ they still said, ‘Oh, yes, we do.’ That showed contempt for their constituency.”
The county’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes a 2% market rate adjustment for all county employees, lower than the 5.44% that staff recommended. FCPS is seeking a 3% adjustment for its employees, along with other salary changes.
If Downing wins the June primary and gets elected in November, she would be eligible for the approved salary increase for the Board of Supervisors chair and would make $138,283 annually.
The candidate also referenced a WJLA story that accused McKay of using a county car for personal trips, including to attend political fundraisers.
“As a retired fed, I was appalled to hear this,” Downing said. “So, I’m wondering about the integrity of a person who puts even small items before the needs of the county.”
McKay said his use of the car adheres to county regulations, which prohibit personal use of county vehicles with an exception for errands that deviate less than a mile “from the normal route traveled” to or from work.
“I attend official events and meetings across the County on any given day throughout the year and always obey traffic laws and follow all applicable County regulations as to the use of County-owned vehicles,” McKay said. “I use a County-owned vehicle for County business. I have when needed used that vehicle for occasional and rare personal stops on the way to and from County functions as permitted for Class 2 take-home vehicle use per County regulations.”
Downing emphasized that, as a Democrat, she aligns with the “platform” of the current Board of Supervisors but disagrees on priorities.
“Where we differ is how we prioritize what’s important for Fairfax. I see that the residents of Fairfax must come first,” she said. “If we don’t emphasize schools and housing, people will walk with their feet. They will leave Fairfax.”
The Democratic primary is set for Tuesday, June 20 this year with the general election on Nov. 7.
Food delivery robots from the startup Cartken have launched at the Mosaic District (courtesy Alex Zilberman/EDENS)
The robots are taking over the Mosaic District.
Starting today (Thursday), a fleet of boxy, self-driving bots will roam around the mixed-use Merrifield neighborhood, delivering food from restaurants in a pilot program by the delivery service Uber Eats and the robotics startup Cartken.
Right now, robot deliveries are available from the family-owned Greek restaurant Our Mom Eugenia, Pupatella Pizza and the Indian fast-casual eatery RASA, but other tenants could be added later. The pilot is slated to run through April 2024.
The Mosaic District is emerging as a prime testing ground for autonomous technology, hosting Fairfax County and Dominion Energy’s Relay shuttle — though the vehicle is currently sidelined by “mechanical issues” through Friday (April 21).
“We are excited to partner with Uber Eats and Cartken to bring cutting-edge technology to our community, and confident this innovative service will elevate visitor experience and customer engagement at Mosaic,” said Greg Dercach, vice president of property management for EDENS, which owns and operates the development.
Uber and Cartken — an Oakland, California-based artificial intelligence company created by former Google engineers — first teamed up to experiment with food delivery robots in the Miami, Florida, area, launching a pilot in December.
The companies chose to introduce the robots to the Mosaic District, their first site in Virginia, because of the development’s walkability and abundance of dining options.
“Uber and Cartken share a vision to provide greater affordability, reliability, and convenience to merchants and consumers — all at the touch of a button,” Noah Zych, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery, said. “Our expansion to Fairfax is another important step in this journey, bringing Virginia residents a little more Uber magic through sidewalk robot delivery.”
Sporting six wheels and a red flag, the robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that help them navigate and avoid collisions. They can carry 1.5 cubic feet — about two full paper grocery bags — and reach speeds of 3-6 mph, depending on the environment.
They will travel anywhere within the Mosaic District, though residents will have to step outside to pick up their deliveries.
While made by a different company, Cartken’s vehicles will look familiar to anyone who has recently visited George Mason University’s Fairfax campus, where robots from Starship Technology have been delivering food to students since 2019.
Founded in 2019, Cartken has also worked with Grubhub at some college campuses and deployed its robots to make Starbucks deliveries at malls in Japan.
“Our team at Cartken is excited to further partner with Uber Eats and expand our reach to serve the Fairfax community,” Cartken co-founder and COO Anjali Jindal Naik said. “Cartken is at an inflection point, where we are rapidly bringing our AI, computer vision, and lidar-less autonomous robots to more places, like Mosaic District, in partnership with Uber Eats.”
Patrons of the participating Mosaic District restaurants can request a delivery by robot through the Uber Eats app, which allows users to track the vehicle’s route and arrival time. A standard delivery takes 20 to 30 minutes, but there’s a “priority” option that advertises a 15 to 25-minute wait for a $1.49 fee.
Preparation for Delayed Southbound GW Parkway Closure Begins — “To prepare for the traffic shift, crews will begin to install temporary lane dividers on April 20. Motorists should expect single lane, northbound closures from 8 p.m. on April 20 to 2:45 p.m. on April 21 during these preparations. Crews will implement the new traffic pattern between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 22.” [National Park Service]
New Dining Options Coming to Local Airports — “Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport announced a new slate of concessions, including spinoffs of some notable DC restaurants and brands. The phased rollout will begin later this year, and more than 80 new dining and retail options are expected open across both airports by 2026.” [Washingtonian]
Metro Shares Vision for Redesigned Bus Network — “Metro released its ‘visionary’ bus network redesign maps on Monday, proposing drastically more bus service to the region. The plan, which is 35% more expensive than the current service, is unfunded so far.” The 100 proposed bus routes include 24-hour service to Dulles Airport and a bus between Bethesda and Tysons. [DCist]
Mosaic ES Renovation Approved — “Fairfax County School Board members voted unanimously on an April 13 consent-agenda item to award a $41.4 million contract to Dustin Construction Inc. to expand and renovate Mosaic Elementary School in the Oakton area.” The project will add a 55,365-square-foot, two-story expansion to the building. [Gazette Leader]
Fort Belvoir Now Has a Panda Express — “Panda Express, a fast food restaurant chain specializing in American Chinese cuisine, opened April 6 at the Fort Belvoir Main Exchange food court. The eatery, which had been under construction since early last year, is located in a space formerly occupied by Boston Market.” [On the MoVe]
State Senate Candidates Debate Tonight in Vienna — Democratic candidates for the 37th Senate District, which includes Vienna, Merrifield, Tysons, Oakton and Fairfax City, will have a debate from 6:30-8 p.m. at the American Legion Post 180 (330 Center Street North). Incumbent Chap Petersen faces primary challenges from Saddam Azlan Salim and Erika Yalowitz. [Patch]
Virginia Revises Process for Removing Dead From Voter Rolls — “As Virginia election officials work to clean up the state’s voter rolls, they announced the discovery of a huge number of dead people still listed as registered voters in the state. After reviewing death records dating back to 1960, they found 18,990 deceased voters who had not been removed.” [WTOP]
Tuition Increase Proposed at GMU — George Mason University has proposed increasing tuition by $300 for the 2023-24 academic year to provide additional financial aid and offset “escalating operational expenses.” The increase could be eliminated for in-state undergraduate students if “the university’s broader funding requests” are included in Virginia’s budget by the General Assembly. [GMU]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny. Pleasantly warm. High of 87 and low of 50. Sunrise at 6:25 am and sunset at 7:50 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County’s population growth has slowed to a crawl, and it’s unclear if that’s a temporary result of the pandemic or a more permanent trend.
The newly published 2022 Demographic Report indicates that the county’s population has slowed since 2020. It decreased in 2021 for the first time since 1840, though 2022 saw a slight rebound from that — an increase of a fraction of a percent.
According to a press release on the report from the county:
Population growth has slowed down in the county since 2020. In fact, in 2021 the total population decreased, resulting in the first negative growth recorded in Fairfax County since 1840.
The Census Bureau Vintage 2021 Population estimates indicate that all factors — largely reduced international in-migration, declined natural growth and increased domestic out-migration — contributed to the slowing of population growth. The 2022 Demographic Report shows that our population growth saw a mild recovery (the total population in 2022 was estimated to be 1,172,646, a 0.2% annual growth), it remains to be seen whether the slowed growth is temporary due to the pandemic.
Still, population forecasts estimate continued but slow growth over the next few decades, from the current 1.2 million up to 1.4 million by 2050.
While the Town of Herndon’s population is expected to swell from 22,308 people to 28,385 by 2050, the forecasts estimate populations in Clifton and Vienna will remain fairly stagnant. Vienna is estimated to hit 17,326 residents by 2030 and stay around that number through 2050.
The report indicated the market value of housing units continues to outpace increases in household income, particularly in the Sully District:
In 2022, the county’s median market value of owned housing units was $648,270, a 10.9% increase from 2021. Among Supervisor Districts, the highest increase was in the Sully District (up 14%), and the lowest was in the Hunter Mill District (up 7.8%). The average monthly rent increased from $1,787 in 2020 to $1,913 in 2021, based on the latest 2021 Rental Housing Complex Analysis report.
Meanwhile, the report noted that the 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year estimated Fairfax County’s median household income only increased 4.5% between 2019 and 2021 — growing only half as fast as housing costs.
The survey estimated the county’s median household income as $134,115, which is almost double the national average of $69,717.
Maman Joon, a Persian restaurant originally based in D.C., is now open at Tysons Corner Center.
Opened during the first week of April, the eatery is located at 8048 Tysons Corner Center on the mall’s second level next to the Pakistani cafe Cha Tea House, replacing the permanently closed Cava.
It joins a growing collection of tenants at the mall catering to the D.C. region’s robust and diverse Arab and Middle Eastern population, including the restaurant Istanbul Kitchen and the Saudi-inspired coffee shop Shotted.
“I think Tysons Corner mall is one of the best malls in the country,” Maman Joon co-owner Peter Tabibian said. “…We know there’s a lot of Persian community and a lot of people from Qatar, Saudi and Middle Eastern countries in that area. We thought there was a void for a Persian [or] Middle Eastern concept, and we thought it would be a great fit to put Maman Joon out there.”
Maman Joon’s expansion to Tysons follows what Tabibian says has been a successful opening in McLean, where the business is co-located with Z-Burger — another concept created by Tabibian and his business partner, McLean resident Kevin Ejtemai.
The paired restaurants opened at 1408 Chain Bridge Road over the summer, becoming the team’s first Virginia locations for both brands. Z-Burger also entered Alexandria’s West End in February.
Both restaurants are distinguished by fresh, quality ingredients and the care put into cooking each meal, Tabibian says. At Maman Joon, all of the meat is certified halal from Lorton-based Washington Lamb, and the chicken kabob, for instance, is marinated for about 38 hours.
“It’s really working out, because some kids come and get a burger and their parents get a kabob, and then vice versa and it’s just been excellent,” he said. “We could not ask for a better combination and a better location. It’s been wonderful.”
At roughly 2,500 square feet, the Tysons Maman Joon is smaller than the one in McLean, which shares about 4,000 square feet with Z-Burger, so the menu has been trimmed down. In addition to kabobs, the restaurant sells soups, salads, wraps and vegetarian rice dishes.
While Tysons Corner Center isn’t getting a Z-Burger, the food court is slated to fill a long-vacant space next to California Tortilla with My Own Pizza, a New York-style pizzeria at Federal Center Plaza in D.C. also run by Tabibian and Ejtemai.
Like at the original location, the pizza will be made on-site in a brick oven. No changes are expected to the menu, which also features calzones and salads.
The stall is about three weeks away from opening, Tabibian estimated, suggesting it could be ready in time for the summer.
“That’s going to be kind of a plus for us, being next to the movie theater,” he said. “It’s going to be in and out basically. Pizzas are really like, if you’re in a rush, you can get it out quickly. I visited most of the places in New York that sell pizzas, and I have talked to the people that have been making pizzas for 30, 40, 50 years, so I got a lot of secrets on how to make the best pizza. So, I think people are going to be out for a treat.”
Local Firefighter Rescues Cat in Tree — “Cat-astrophe avoided! Firefighter Austin Cole and crew from Tower 424, Woodlawn, C-Shift recently resc-mewed a cat who’d been lost for a few days. W/ safeties tied to ladder, Firefighter Cole climbed and warmed up to Asha w/a treat. Tears of joy shed upon reunification.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Lawyer Criticizes Grand Jury Decision in Police Shooting — “Carl Crews, an attorney representing the family of Timothy McCree Johnson, said in a statement that Fairfax County detectives ‘tanked’ the presentation of evidence to the panel considering whether to indict Sgt. Wesley Shifflett…A defense attorney for the officer noted [Crews] was not present during the proceedings.” [The Washington Post]
Route 1 Advocates Urge County to Fund Social Services — “Advocates for low-income residents of the Route 1 community, including a mobile home residents’ coalition, faith communities, activist groups and nonprofit service providers, showed up in force last week at the FY24 budget hearings held by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors” [On the MoVe]
School Board Adopts First-Ever Conduct Policy — “The Fairfax County School Board on April 13 voted 10-2 to approve a new policy that governs expectations of board members’ conduct — including with their employees — and stipulates corrective measures in case of violations.” The board will be required to review the policy every five years. [Gazette Leader]
Nutley Street Lane to I-66 Closes for a Month — “A long-term closure of the right lane on northbound Nutley Street between Hermosa Drive and the ramp to I-66 East will begin at 9 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, April 18, to complete drainage work as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. The closure will remain in place until approximately May 18.” [VDOT]
Government Contractor Moves Into Tysons HQ — V2X Inc., a “government services company formed through the $2.1 billion merger of Vectrus Inc. and Vertex Inc., said Monday it has officially moved its headquarters to Tysons.” Providing operations and logistics, aerospace, training and technology support, the new company is based at 7901 Jones Branch Drive, where Colorado Springs-based Vectrus had an office. [Washington Business Journal]
FCPS Sees Increased Enrollment for Arabic Classes — “Fairfax County Public Schools has good reason to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month this April: enrollment in its Arabic language course has nearly doubled over the last decade…For the 2022–2023 school year, there are 838 students enrolled in Arabic 1–4 and International Baccalaureate courses.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
County Opens Registration for Therapeutic Summer Camps — “Registration for NCS’ 2023 Therapeutic Recreation Summer Camp opens on Wednesday, April 19. This is a wonderful opportunity for children and young adults with disabilities ages 5-22 to be involved in up to three weeks of a safe and fun summer program.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Bike to Work Day Adds Annandale Pit Stop — “For the first time since Bike to Work Day was established 22 years ago in the D.C. area, there will be a pit stop at George Mason Regional Library in Annandale. Bike to Work Day is May 19. Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association are coordinating the event with the goal of raising awareness about the benefits of riding a bike to work” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Sunny. Mild. High of 74 and low of 45. Sunrise at 6:26 am and sunset at 7:49 pm. [Weather.gov]
For the next few months, drivers will have just one road to reach Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) from Wolf Trap.
The access point at Trap Road is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) and will remain blocked to traffic until 9 a.m. Saturday (April 22), the Virginia Department of Transportation announced last week.
Drivers will be required to use Towlston Road in order to travel between Route 7 and Trap Road.
“By Saturday, April 22 at 9 a.m., the eastbound lanes of Route 7 will shift to the south, and Trap Road will reopen at Route 7 to incoming traffic,” VDOT said. “Drivers on eastbound Route 7 will be able to turn right onto Trap Road.”
However, Trap Road will remain closed to outgoing traffic, which will still need to use Towlston through this summer. A full reopening is currently anticipated in August, according to VDOT.
The closure is part of the ongoing project to widen Route 7 from four to six lanes along a nearly 7-mile stretch from Reston Avenue to Jarrett Valley Drive. Under construction since 2019, the project is also adding 10-foot-wide shared-use paths on both sides of the roadway and redesigning key intersections.
New traffic patterns necessitated by a reconstruction of the Baron Cameron Avenue intersection will be in place until 5 a.m. Thursday (April 20). The new Lewinsville Road intersection is on track to open in May.
The overall Route 7 widening is expected to be completed by July 31, 2024, according to the project website. It costs an estimated $313.9 million.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area.
In effect from noon until 8 p.m. today (Tuesday), the alert says a combination of strong wind gusts and low humidity have raised the risk of outdoor fires.
“A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly,” the NWS said. “A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”
The full alert is below:
…RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR VIRGINIA, SOUTHERN MARYLAND, AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE…
* WINDS…West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS…Critical fire weather conditions are expected through this evening. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.
* FUEL MOISTURE…Dropping to around 7 or 8 percent.
It’s a higher-level warning than the “elevated threat” alert that the NWS issued last Wednesday (April 12) when there were similar weather conditions.
The Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security advises that cigarettes and other smoking materials should be disposed properly in water, sand or an ash tray.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said there were “several reports of brush fires” last week. A brush fire near the Evergreen House apartments in Annandale on Thursday (April 13) affected about 2 acres of land, though the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported that there were no injuries.
Virginia’s spring fire season typically falls between Feb. 15 and April 30, according to the state’s forestry department.
The D.C. area is currently in the midst of its warmest year on record, the Capital Weather Gang reported, with the 46.9-degree average temperature at Dulles International Airport surpassing the previous record in 2012 by 1 degree.
[4/18 at 12:15 PM]
A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8 PM. A Red Flag Warning means warm temps, very low humidity, & strong winds are expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger. Dispose of smoking materials properly. Sink it or soak it in water/sand/receptacle. pic.twitter.com/Zkxgs3DAaA
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) April 18, 2023
A #RedFlagWarning has been issued from Noon-8 pm today. We had several reports of brush
last week during similar conditions, so please dispose of smoking materials properly. #VaWX pic.twitter.com/gnrsgew7Vh
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) April 18, 2023
