Fire danger moved to high, the middle of five levels, across much of western Montana on Wednesday.
The Missoula County Fire Protection Association, a consortium of local governments, fire agencies and land management agencies, raised fire danger to high for Missoula County. Fire danger also moved to high on the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests.
“When fire danger is ‘high’ fires will start from most causes,” Alexandra Stuart, a public information officer for fire management on the Bitterroot, wrote in an announcement Wednesday. “The fires will spread rapidly, and short-distance spotting is common. All fine, dead fuels ignite readily, and unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. High intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are hit hard and fast while small.”
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The county Fire Protection Association also reiterated in its announcement of elevated fire danger that outdoor burning — fires larger than 48 inches across, such as debris or agricultural burns — closed across the county July 2. Outdoor burning will close in Ravalli County effective this Saturday, July 13.
As of Wednesday, fire danger was listed as low on the Flathead National Forest and high on the Kootenai National Forest.
Although campfires are still allowed in most places — there were no general fire restrictions in place in Montana on Tuesday — campfires are prohibited at all times within Missoula city limits, according to city ordinance.
The increased fire danger for much of western Montana comes as severe heat bakes the region. Daily high temperatures this week range from the upper 90 degrees to mid-100s. The heat is projected to last at least into the beginning of next week, according to the National Weather Service.
“With conditions dry and with no reprieve in sight, it is critical that the public exercise caution while recreating and working outdoors,” said Ashleigh Burwick, fire management officer for the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Missoula Unit. “Many of our recent human-caused wildfires have been from illegal debris burning, bonfires, fireworks, and equipment.”
An interagency news release from the DNRC noted that 75% of wildfires in Montana and Missoula County are caused by humans.
Joshua Murdock covers the outdoors and natural resources for the Missoulian. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Boulder Monitor in Jefferson County, Montana, and has worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in rural towns in Idaho and Utah.
