Fire Danger High, Winds Rocking Front Range

DENVER (CBS) - Extremely strong winds were blowing across the Denver metro area on Friday morning.

Down-sloping, dry chinook winds are bringing temperatures up to way above normal.

At 6:30 a.m. the temperatures were already in the 50s.

A red flag warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. for the Denver metro area and a large part of northeast Colorado.

Strong winds, along with warm and dry conditions, could fuel a grass fire. Fire experts said a fire can quickly spread if it starts in dry grass or piles of small branches, especially this year since there hasn't been much, if any, snow to keep things damp.

Poudre Fire Authority in Larimer County on Thursday told CBS4 they are prepared to respond to fires in these kinds of conditions.

"We actually bump up our response, so we front load our response to send extra equipment right at the first dispatch, compared to a day where there's not wind and the vegetation is not too terribly dry," said Patrick Love with the Poudre Fire Authority.