Due to increasing temperatures and drying vegetation, fire protection agencies have raised the fire danger in Missoula County to HIGH, effective Monday, July 18. When fire danger is high, dry grasses and needles ignite easily and fires can spread rapidly and may be difficult to control.
Did you know that on average, three out of every four wildfires in Missoula County are caused by people? Follow these steps to reduce the risk of starting a fire:
•Attend to your campfire and use established fire rings at campsites.
•Drown your campfire with water, stir the coals and embers, then drown again and make sure the campfire is cool to the touch before leaving it. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.
•Recreational fires are illegal within Missoula city limits, and there are areas in Montana that are currently in fire restrictions, so be sure to know the rules and restrictions where you are recreating.
Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for more information on fire restrictions across Montana.
Additionally, equipment and vehicle sparks were a primary cause of wildfires in 2021, so be careful when mowing your lawn or field, haying or dragging a trailer. Low mower and haying blades can hit rocks and cause sparks, and trailer chains that are too long can drag on roadways and produce hundreds of sparks.
Remember to:
•Cut when conditions are cooler and there is no wind
•Always have a fire extinguisher or water and tools nearby
•Make sure safety chains are crossed and a minimum of five inches from the ground.
Visit the Missoula County website for more information: https://www.missoulacounty.us/Home/Components/News/News/17776/17?backlist=%2f
Original source can be found here.
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