Chilly Spring Fuels Fire Danger But Officials Still Predict Fire Season Will Be Less Severe Than Last Year

A wet, chilly spring probably will increase - not lower - Idaho’s wildfire potential in the coming month, fire officials say.

In fact, the number of blazes in Idaho Panhandle National Forests already is higher than normal and higher than this time last year - when some firefighters battled a record number of fires.

Still, Idaho officials are entering this August with cooler heads.

“I anticipate a much less severe season than last year,” said Mark Vore, Panhandle forest dispatcher.

North Idaho forests average 36 fires by this date every year, including 1994. This year, firefighters have seen 43.

Annual season averages are below 170 for the Panhandle. Last year, forest fires hit 234 by Aug. 1.

“Last year was extremely, extremely dry,” Vore said.

Fire officials say earlier rains brought out thin grasses and leaves that will go crumbly-dry in continued 90-degree heat.

By the time those grasses turn brown and die, the season will be almost over. The end-of-season rains usually begin near the end of August.

Forecasters call for temperatures to cool slightly in coming days. Thunder showers can bring blaze-sparking lightning strikes, but those fires are easier to prep for than unattended campfire scorchers.

In Washington, where the number of firefighters has dropped 25 percent in 15 years and legislators are expected to hack $1.7 million from a $20-million-plus budget, fire officials are nervous. Not so here.

“We’re still benefitting from our moisture,” said Brian Shiplett, fire and fuel specialist with Idaho Department of Lands.

Shiplett said money and manpower at his agency is holding steady. The lands department manages 6 million acres on $4.1 million annually with 66 firefighters. But they also are used to doing more with less.

“We cooperate a lot with our neighbors,” he said. “We’re in pretty good shape.”

, DataTimes