Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Wildfire, fire management and air quality news for western Montana and the Northern Rockies.

Missoula County Raises Fire Danger To "High"

National Interagency Fire Center

As the warm, dry conditions of mid-July settle over Montana, fire danger has increased, especially in the west.

Missoula County moved the fire danger to high on Monday, which means all outdoor burning permits for the county have been cancelled for the season.

Several other counties have fire restrictions in place until rescinded to to reduce the chance of out of control fires.

Lolo National Forest also elevated their fire danger to high. Firefighters responded to 35 small fires within the Lolo National Forest protection area so far this fire season. Thirty-two of those fires were human caused, including abandoned campfires, and three were lightning strikes totaling 13 acres.

Fire danger in the other national forests in Montana is currently listed as low to moderate but that can quickly change as the hot, dry weather continues to linger.

As of July 14 the fire danger in Yellowstone National Park is listed as moderate.

 

Copyright 2020 Yellowstone Public Radio

Kay Erickson has been working in broadcasting in Billings for more than 20 years. She spent well over a decade as news assignment editor at KTVQ-TV before joining the staff at YPR. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, with a degree in broadcast journalism. Shortly after graduation she worked in Great Falls where she was one of the first female sports anchor and reporter in Montana.
Become a sustaining member for as low as $5/month
Make an annual or one-time donation to support MTPR
Pay an existing pledge or update your payment information
Related Content