VIDEO: With fire danger soaring from "high" to "extreme" in just a week, fire managers are warning Western Montana residents any spark could start a big blaze right now.
The fire danger levels are based on a variety of factors, such as weather conditions and especially the measurement of moisture content in fuels like grass, brush, and timber. And when we go to "extreme" that's the worst case scenario. "There is a high potential for any fire to be a big consequence. Fires start off of any cause and spread rapidly," explains DNRC Community Preparedness- Fire Prevention Specialist Kristin Mortenson. "They are difficult to control and often a direct attack can not be done. And they burn with very, very high intensity. So any spark can create a big fire."