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Wildfire, fire management and air quality news for western Montana and the Northern Rockies.

Fire Danger Moves To 'Moderate' On Bitterroot National Forest

Fire danger sign.
Jonathan Thorne (CC-BY-NC-2)
Fire danger sign.

The Bitterroot National Forest is changing its fire danger level from ‘Low’ to ‘Moderate’ starting Wednesday, June 27.

The shift to ‘moderate’ means that wildfires can now be expected to start from most accidental causes. In addition to lightning, that includes human causes like smoldering campfires left unattended.

Officials at the Bitterroot National Forest warn visitors that with a moderate fire danger, grass fires can spread quickly. They are reminding the public to be aware of fire hazards, especially with the Fourth of July next week.

Fireworks, like those that started the Eagle Creek wildfire that spread to 48,000 acres in Oregon last year, are not allowed in any National Forests.

Maxine is the All Things Considered host and reporter for MTPR. She got her start at MTPR as a Montana News intern. She has also worked at KUNC in Northern Colorado and for Pacific Standard magazine as an editorial fellow covering wildfire and the environment.
Maxine graduated from the University of Montana with a master's degree in natural resource journalism and has a degree in creative writing from Vassar College. When she’s not behind the microphone you can find Maxine skiing, hiking with her not-so-well-behaved dogs, or lost in a book.
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