Officials Increase Fire Danger Back to ‘High” [AUDIO]

The Missoula County Fire Prevention Association has increased the fire danger level back to 'HIGH'.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Jordan Koppen said on Tuesday, the warm temperatures expected through Thursday have prompted the move.

"We've decided to go with HIGH for now," Koppen said. "It's pretty obvious, since we've closed down any open burning especially with the higher temperatures getting up into the high 80's and low 90's. We're figuring it's going to be just a little while longer before we start getting the cooler weather, and the summer has been longer than we expected."

Koppen said the small fuels in the area have become tinder dry and are more prone to fire.

"The frost kills the shrubs and smaller grasses out there and they dry and shrivel up, and they're super combustible," he said. "Like I said, we're just encouraging the public to be super cautious out there."

DNRC Spokesman Jordan Koppen