Fire danger moderate despite warm weather

Recent rains have watered down drought concerns and fire hazards, despite a hot spell this week.

Hot, dry temperatures are projected to continue today with regional thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service is predicting an increase in thunderstorms through today over the Cascades. The storms will start out dry and will likely gain moisture through the day. Temperatures reached 90 degrees in Coeur d’Alene and 92 degrees in Spokane Wednesday. Temperatures today and Friday are expected in the high 80s to mid-90s.

Dale Martin, fire warden for the Idaho Department of Lands in Priest Lake, anticipates a few “sleeper” fires from ground strikes and an earlier lightning season this year. Lightning fires aren’t a big concern now, but if the hot weather continues, that could change in a hurry.

“The fuels are a major factor in the spread of a wildfire,” said Martin. “As soon as it dries out, with a little wind and a fire start, we could start having problems.”

He said campfires should be attended at all times and put out properly.

Fire danger in Martin’s region is moderate, but in lower elevations fire danger is much higher.

Tom Paulson, with the Coeur d’Alene Interagency Dispatch Center in Hayden, said rainfall is average for this time of year and fire danger in forested regions is moderate. But he said lowland regions and valleys are nearing high fire danger.

Recent rainfalls that peaked near Memorial Day did enough to ease drought concerns in Eastern Washington.

Don Potts, east regional manager for the grain inspection program of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said crops were in need of rain and should now be in good shape for the summer.

“We had some pretty timely rains,” he said.