Burning season canceled as dry conditions raise fire danger
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A wild fire started on west Finley Point Sunday evening, but the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire jumped on it and continued efforts on Monday, with a helicopter dumping water on the flames, two fire trucks on site and firefighters working on the blaze.
“The fire’s maybe an acre,” said Devlin LaFrombois, CSKT fire prevention technician, adding that firefighters have a fire line encompassing the burn.
Due to rising temperatures and lack of precipitation, the Division of Fire has canceled all burning on the reservation as of Monday afternoon, including those with permits. Missoula County and Sanders have also discontinued their burning season.
With lows in the 50s and highs in the 90s predicted this week, risk of fire danger will be rising.
Fire danger on the west side of the Flathead Reservation is very high already, according to LaFrombois. By the end of the weekend, he predicts the east side will be rated high.
“We’re about five weeks ahead of schedule. We usually don’t see high or very high fire danger until the middle or end of July,” LaFrombois said.
The CSKT Division of Fire and all local fire departments urge people to be safe when they are out recreating.
“There are no campfire restrictions yet,” LaFrombois said, asking outdoors people to douse their campfires with water to make sure they’re extinguished.
Fireworks are allowed, but not on tribal forested areas, wilderness and recreation sites.
