RONAN — Officials are hiking the fire danger on the Flathead Indian Reservation due to continued hot and dry conditions.
Wildland fire officials with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire have raised the fire danger within the Flathead Indian Reservation to "very high." Very high fire danger means that dry grasses and needles ignite easily, fires can spread rapidly and may be difficult to control.
The CSKT Division of Fire reports crews have responded to unattended campfires, equipment, and fireworks fires this last week. Motorists are being urged not to drive or park in tall grass while farmers should hay in the mornings or late evenings. Additionally, unattended campfires are likely to escape.
"Always attend your campfire and use established fire rings. Remember to completely drown your campfire with water, stir the coals and embers, then drown again and make sure the campfire is cool to the touch. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave," a social media post notes.
Fire managers are urging residents and visitors to use caution when recreating outdoors. Fireworks are prohibited on all tribal, state, and federal classified forestlands. Outdoor burning by permit is closed within the Flathead Indian Reservation.
