Despite recent rain and cooler temperatures, fire danger remains very high and restrictions are still in place.
Fire officials are reminding residents that the smallest spark has the potential to cause significant fire damage.
The Kalispell area had approximately 22 more fires over the last week, with 12 of those fires being human caused, according to local officials.
Fine fuels have been moistened by the rain, but the larger fuels, such as branches and downed trees, are still very dry and can ignite quickly and burn intensely, Lisa Osborn with the U.S. Forest Service said.
“We are currently in the middle of a long and hot wildfire season,” Osborn said. “We would like to thank the public and urge you to keep doing your part to avoid human caused fires.”
Stage 1 fire restrictions are still in effect for Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders Counties. This includes all private, state, and federally (USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) managed lands in these counties. Fire restrictions continue in the Bob Marshall Wilderness lands within the Flathead National Forest. Completely contained wood stoves with a fire screen or spark arrester are allowed only in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, instead of campfires.
Under Stage 1, fires are prohibited except within developed recreation sites (See the list below or contact your local agency for a list of sites), and smoking is allowed only in areas cleared of flammable materials. Exemptions include fires fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG, or other activities for which there is a permit or written authorization.
Counties allow campfires under certain conditions, and it is your responsibility to know what they are before you light one. By state law, a campfire is defined as “a fire set for cooking, warming, or ceremonial purposes; not more than three feet in diameter or height; void of overhanging branches; with all combustible material cleared at least 1-1/2 times the diameter of the fire; or a barbecue in a noncombustible container.”