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MISSOULA – Hot and windy conditions are drying fuels out, prompting Missoula County fire protection agencies to raise the fire danger in the Missoula area to VERY HIGH. Very high fire danger means that fires start easily from all causes, immediately spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity. There are no fire restrictions in place in the County at this time but outdoor burning by permit remains closed. Residents and visitors are urged to use extra caution when outdoors due to the dry fuels and windy conditions, and to visit w...
Sustained cooler temperatures and increased fuel moistures have prompted fire protection agencies to lower the fire danger in Missoula County to HIGH, effective immediately. Caution when outdoors is still urged as when fire danger is high, dry grasses and needles ignite easily and fires can spread rapidly and may be difficult to control. Unattended campfires are likely to escape and high intensity burning is likely to occur on slopes and concentrated grassy areas. “There is still plenty of tall, dry grass—especially in our lower cou...
MISSOULA - 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. Unattended campfires are likely to escape and high intensity burning is likely to occur on slopes and concentrated grassy areas. According to Colt Mortenson, Lolo National Forest Fire Staff Officer, “Spring and early summer rains have provided us w...
MISSOULA - Spring is coming, Missoula County--and that means the opening of outdoor burning season! The General and Essential Agriculture and Prescribed Wildland Outdoor Burning Seasons opened March 1 in Missoula County. All outdoor burning requires a burn permit and the only material that may be disposed of by burning is untreated wood and vegetation generated onsite. Permits cost $7 and can be purchased or renewed online at https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/or in person at the Seeley Lake Fire Department, 200 Firehouse Lane. The leading...
MISSOULA – Extended cooler weather and precipitation has prompted Missoula County fire protection agencies to reduce the fire danger in the Missoula area to Low. When fire danger is low, fuels do not ignite readily from small embers but will if a more intense heat source occurs. Fires in open, dry grasslands may burn freely a few hours after rain, but wood fires spread slowly by creeping or smoldering. Fire managers would like to re-iterate that LOW fire danger is not NO fire danger. “This recurring pattern of precipitation will definitely hit...
MISSOULA - While many of us are feeling the chill of winter approaching, wildland firefighters in Missoula County are still feeling the heat of fire season as they run from one end of the county to the other, working long hours to put out wildfires caused by human carelessness. Eight human caused wildfires occurred in Missoula County over this past week, the result of abandoned campfires, illegal debris burning and careless sparks. Missoula County Fire Protection Association fire managers want to remind residents and visitors that fire danger...
MISSOULA - In response to higher fuel moistures and sustained cooler temperatures, Missoula County fire protection agencies have lowered the fire danger to Moderate, effective immediately. Fall prescribed wildland and essential agriculture burning, that closed last week, remains closed. Forecasted weather includes cooler temperatures throughout the area for this upcoming week, but also breezy/windy conditions daily and a mostly dry cold front coming in Wednesday. “Caution is still warranted with any spark right now—but especially when bre...
Due to a rebound in higher temperatures and drying vegetation, Missoula County fire protection agencies are raising the Missoula area fire danger rating to High effective immediately. In high fire danger, dry grasses and needles ignite easily and fires can spread rapidly and may be difficult to control. Due to this elevated fire risk in conjunction with air quality concerns, fall outdoor burning has also been closed. “While the rain last month helped slow our local fire behavior, wildfires are still actively burning in other states and s...
MISSOULA - Widespread precipitation and cooler temperatures throughout the Missoula area have prompted Missoula County fire protection agencies to lower the fire danger in the Missoula area to VERY HIGH, effective immediately. Stage II Fire Restrictions are still in place. The movement of the arrow back reflects the current and short-term predicted conditions but residents and visitors are urged to still use caution when outdoors— Very High fire danger means that fires start easily from all causes, and immediately spread rapidly and increase q...
MISSOULA - Due to increasing temperatures and drying vegetation, wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have raised the fire danger within Missoula County to HIGH and closed outdoor burning by permit effective Tuesday, June 29. High fire danger means that dry grasses and needles ignite easily, fires can spread rapidly and may be difficult to control. Unattended campfires are likely to escape. Always attend your campfire and use established fire rings. Remember to completely drown your campfire with...
MISSOULA - Due to increasing temperatures, lack of precipitation, and drying vegetation, wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have raised the fire danger within Missoula County to MODERATE, effective immediately. When fire danger is moderate, fires readily start in open, dry grassland and will burn and spread quickly on windy days. Most wood fires will spread slowly to moderately. Outdoor burning with a permit is still open in Missoula County, but MCFPA urges residents to not burn on windy days...
MISSOULA - Due to increasing temperatures, lack of precipitation and drying vegetation, wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have raised the fire danger within Missoula County to Moderate, effective immediately. When fire danger is moderate, fires will readily start in open, dry grassland and will burn and spread quickly on windy days. Most wood fires will spread slowly to moderately. Outdoor burning with a permit is still open in Missoula County, but MCFPA urges residents to not burn on windy day...
Spring is coming and that means the start to outdoor burning in the county! The General Outdoor Burning Season opened March 1 in Missoula County. If you are planning to burn, please remember that all outdoor burning requires a Missoula County outdoor burn permit and the only material that may be disposed of by burning is untreated wood and vegetation generated onsite. Permits cost $7 and can be purchased or renewed online at www.burnpermit.mt.gov or in person at most local fire protection agencies. Some agencies may be closed to the public due...
MISSOULA - In response to a predicted cooling trend and chance of precipitation, Missoula County opened fall burning effective Oct. 12. At that time, the only burning that will be permitted is prescribed wildland and essential agriculture burning. All outdoor burning in Missoula County is by permit only, and the General Burning Season (burning of yard debris/untreated vegetative waste generated onsite) is closed until March 1, 2021. Within Missoula City limits, parcels must be at least one acre or more in size to be eligible for an outdoor...
Missoula County Fire Protection agencies want to remind residents and visitors that fire danger remains High in the Missoula area and that outdoor burning by permit is still closed. Some wetting rain and a brief respite in heat and smoke can be deceiving but not was not enough to fully replenish the dry fuels – the danger of fire remains. The weather forecast does call for potential moisture and a higher than normal chance of precipitation in the six to 10-day outlook, but the forecast also calls for dry, windy conditions later this week. F...
MISSOULA - Warmer, drier conditions have tilted the scales in fire danger from Moderate to High. Recent lightning storms have ignited a dozen fires in the area but since grasses in the forest remain green and fuel moistures in larger forest fuels remains high, initial attack has kept all of those fires less than 1/3 of an acre in size. Human-caused fires are the major point of emphasis for wildland fire managers. Fire danger at lower elevations are more likely to spread in valley bottoms as grasses begin to cure. There has been a significant...
MISSOULA - Warmer, drier conditions recently have tilted the scales in fire danger from Low to Moderate, indicating the start of fire season in Montana. Even though grass is green, the primary indicator of fire danger is the dryness of dead fuels. In response to the move to Moderate fire danger, Missoula County is closing Outdoor Burning by Permit, effective Tuesday, July 7. There were thousands of burn permits activated in Missoula County since outdoor burning by permit was opened in March. Missoula County Fire Protection Association agencies...
Wildfire prevention personnel and first responders have been encountering a high number of unattended campfires this spring across public lands within Missoula County. Even though mild spring conditions have ushered in wet, cool conditions, campfire safety should always be followed to prevent wildfire. Campfires should be kept smaller than 3 feet in diameter, and optimally be contained within an existing metal ring at a designated campground or other established site. If campers are enjoying a...
With warmer, drier conditions expected later this week, interagency wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) are expecting an increase in outdoor burning by permit. The fire danger rating is currently LOW and a quick scan into the hills around Missoula reveals snow on the ground. Missoula County citizens are taking advantage of more time spent at home, protecting their neighbors by complying with the state’s shelter in place order. There’s another group of your neighbors that need to be in the for...
MISSOULA - Recent widespread rain, interagency wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) are reporting lower fire danger indices within Missoula County. The fire danger rating was lowered to MODERATE last week. Indices dipped into the LOW range briefly this week, but with a return to seasonal temperatures today and through the weekend, fire danger remains MODERATE at this time. The move does not indicate an end to fire season. Grass and other fine...
MISSOULA - Wildland fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have dropped fire danger within Missoula County from high to moderate. Fall burning is now open for those with a permit. Recent days have seen lower temperatures, higher relative humidity and widespread precipitation is forecasted for this coming week. Because of this, MCFPA officials have decided to open Fall Burning Oct. 1 – Nov. 30. Fall Burning is available only to those with Essential Agricultural and Prescribed Wildland Permits. In the fall, b...
MISSOULA – Widespread precipitation and cool temperatures have lessened the fire danger in the Missoula Area to the extent that fire managers are able to lift Stage II fire restrictions Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 12:01 a.m. Stage I restrictions were not implemented this year, so Stage I restrictions will not be in effect on Wednesday. The public is reminded that county bans on open burning persist across most of western Montana. Agencies rescinding Stage II Restrictions Aug. 29 • MT-DNRC Northwestern Land Office Plains Unit (State Land & Pri...
MISSOULA - Fire officials with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) have moved the fire danger rating to HIGH starting Monday, July 16. Hot and dry conditions remain in the forecast consecutively throughout the week and weekend with no relief in sight. Grasses and vegetation are rapidly drying out. Fire agencies responded to numerous debris burns this past week, one that burned almost two acres. Again, fire officials want to remind the public that open burning has been closed as of July 4th and will remain closed for the...
MISSOULA - Dec. 1 marks the closing of outdoor burning by permit in western Montana. While there has been abundant precipitation since October and the welcome snowfall recently, the main consideration for outdoor burning season to close is one of poor air quality. It is common for strong inversions to set up in the valleys of western Montana during the winter months. If residents were allowed to continue outdoor burning by permit in the winter, adverse air quality conditions would be the likely result. Since outdoor burning by permit opened...
