Multitude of wildfires, high fire danger in western Montana
7/12/2017 8:00:48 PM
CATEGORIES:
Fire
AFFECTED AREAS:
Flathead County, MT
Lincoln County, MT
Missoula County, MT
Ravalli County, MT
Start Date: 7/11/2017
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Hundreds of lightning strikes and people have sparked many fires in western Montana, and the dry conditions allowed the fires to start more easily. No rain has fallen in July, setting the stage for fires caused by haying equipment. These types of fires do not normally occur until farmers are making a third cutting in August, but the dryness has increased the fire danger.
“The fire behavior that we’re seeing right now is pretty impressive for this time in July,” said Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Northwest Land Office Operation’s Manager Dan Cassidy. “These are the kinds of conditions that we normally see in August.”
Missoula Missoulian (Mont.), July 11, 2017
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