Fire Danger Ramps Up

The volatility of this area for fire has not been nearly as high as other areas nearby, but all of Southern Idaho and extending east to the Tetons were placed under a red-flag warning for the first time this summer yesterday.  This included up to the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park and Bridger Teton National Forest.  Bridger Teton Spokesperson Mary Cernicek explains that red-flag warnings mean that the risk of fire starts is particularly high.  Cernicek explains a red flag warning means the wind, the temperature, the moisture levels in the different fuels, and other variables lend themselves to being more ready for fires to ignite and take off.   While Jackson Hole itself was not included in the warning, Cernicek says the proximity of the affected area should be a cue for heightened caution here as well. As such, she says visitors to the forest are being urged to be very careful with the use of fire. Park and Forest officials are considering raising the fire danger designation here to “high” today.  Forecasters say we have not received the early to mid-June rains that typically help drop the fire risk and the outlook for the next 14 days is for below normal precipitation.