DANBURY - Fire officials are warning residents of a heightened fire danger this afternoon due to dry conditions and increased winds. Citing an alert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued an alert that a dry air mass over the region combined with high winds is creating a situation where fire can spread more rapidly. Wind gusts of up to 20 to 30 miles per hour could increase the spread of an fire that is ignited, the alert noted. Crews with the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department as recently as last week battled a brush fire near Francis J.