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Fire danger high in much of North Idaho |
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August 2, 2014 |
The persistent hot and dry weather pattern
continues to dry forest fuels, prompting fire
managers to raise the wildland fire danger to
“High” throughout most of North Idaho.
Locally, the Bonners Ferry Ranger District of
the U.S. Forest Service and the Kootenai Valley
Supervisory Area of the Idaho Department of
Lands both list our local area fire danger as
"High."
To find out the fire danger for various parts of
Northern Idaho, check the web site for the Coeur
d’Alene Interagency Dispatch Center. That web
site is:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/dc/idcdc/
When the fire danger is "High,” fires can start
easily from many causes, and small fuels such as
grasses and needles will ignite readily.
Unattended campfires and brush fires are likely
to escape. Fires will spread easily and can
become serious and difficult to control unless
they are put out while they are still small.
The moisture of the spring and early summer has
led to the growth of a large quantity of grasses
and brush. When cured, this season’s growth will
provide an abundance of fine, flashy fuels,
increasing the threat of fast moving wildland
fires.
Hold-over fires from slash piles burned this
past spring and fall have the potential to be a
major cause of fires in the near future.
Individuals who have conducted burning
operations this spring or last fall should
carefully check their burn areas for any
smoldering debris. Fires caused by people are of
great concern because of their proximity to
homes. Those responsible for human-caused fires,
including hold-over fires from fall or spring
burning, will be billed for suppression costs.
The heat of the summer fire season in North
Idaho typically begins in mid to late July. The
warm and dry weather we have been experiencing
may lead to above average fire potential for the
remainder of the summer. |
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