Member Center

Fire Watch 2012

Montana's wildfire season extended

Posted: Sep 27, 2012 8:42 AM by MTN News

Bookmark and Share
Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

HELENA - Wildfires still threaten much of Montana because of a lack of rain and dry conditions, so the Department of Natural resources and Conservation (DNRC) is extending the wildfire season.

The fire season normally ends on Sept. 30 and the extension makes it easier for counties to impose fire restrictions.

DNRC director Mary Sexton and Forestry Division Administrator Bob Harrington signed the proclamation for an indefinite extension.

In the last month, lightning has not been such a factor, with more fires have been human caused.

"We really won't be able to say that fire season is over until what we have what our fire managers call a season ending event," said John Grass, public information officer for the DNRC. "Which is a significant rain or snow event, which puts an end to the large fires which are currently burning and puts enough moisture into the ground to reduce the fire danger that has been with us now since the end of June."

The DNRC encourages people to take extreme caution with off-road vehicle use, field use of cutting torches or welding equipment, camp fires, or any other activities that could potentially start a wildfire.

Fire Watch Gallery

  • Structures lost in Dahl Fire
    Show caption ↓
    Structures lost in Dahl Fire
  • Structures lost in Dahl Fire
    Show caption ↓
    Structures lost in Dahl Fire
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire submitted by Steve DiGiovanna
  • pony fire from whitehall 6/25
    pony fire from whitehall 6/25
  • The Smoke
    The Smoke
  • The smoke east of Belgrade
    The smoke east of Belgrade
  • Encroaching smoke seen from NW Bozeman
    Encroaching smoke seen from NW Bozeman
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
  • Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
    Show caption ↓
    Bear Trap 2 Fire by Axel Short
  • Night view of Bear Trap 2 Fire by Chris Kamman
    Show caption ↓
    Night view of Bear Trap 2 Fire by Chris Kamman
  • Day 2 of Bear Trap 2 Fire
    Show caption ↓
    Day 2 of Bear Trap 2 Fire

Fire Watch 2012

Comments

Recent Top Stories

KBZK Video

Friday Morning STORMTracker Update

KBZK.com is social!