(RALEIGH) -- The National Weather Service and the NC Division of Forest Resources say that North Carolinians should not burn outdoors during this weekend due to high winds and dry air increasing the risk of wildfires.

A red flag warning has been issued for the entire state for Saturday. This means that there are critical fire weather conditions. Parts of North Carolina may have winds up to 50 miles per hour.

Although it may seem strange, Brian Haines of the NC Division of Forest Resources said that burning is part of a lot of people's spring cleaning routine.

"A lot of folks want to burn their leaves and twigs and stuff along those lines. We encourage them to get a debris-burning permit from the Department of Forest Resources," Haines said.

Instead of burning, state officials say that residents should compost their brush piles or leave them until a soaking rainfall.