fire season

Forecasters are predicting a normal fire season. But that’s still a lot of fires – Wyoming averages 800 wildfires a year. State officials say Wyoming’s strongest asset in fighting those hundreds of fires is a bunch of local, state, and federal agencies working together.

The move comes amid broader efforts to address longstanding working condition issues in the federal fire force.

The most recent wildfire potential outlook report from the National Interagency Fire Center shows that much of the West will likely see normal or below normal wildfire seasons this year. However, a large swath of southwest Idaho, northwest Nevada and central Oregon and Washington could see above average wildfire.

Researchers found that those wildfires increase the “occurrences of heavy precipitation rates by 38%” in our region, according to their work in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Restrictions are often implemented during the summer months when fire and drought conditions are the most severe and are often lifted in the fall and winter, though they can remain in place during these times as well. Protecting lands for hunting, preserving public access, and preserving wildlife habitats are major reasons that restrictions are put in place.

Much of the Mountain West is in the midst of a heat wave, but what does that mean for wildfires? The National Interagency Fire Center forecasters say it depends on what happens next. Extreme heat can dry out fuels, starting with grass and brush and then drying out trees. If that’s followed by more hot, windy weather and thunderstorms, that’s a recipe for more wildfires.

The Wyoming State Forester says he is expecting a bigger than average fire season. Bill Crapser joins Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck to discuss that and the fact that the number of available firefighters is diminishing.

Crapser told Wyoming Public Radio that the biggest area of concern is the southern part of the state.

Federal wildland fire forecasters have issued their summer outlook with a series of maps, showing ominous splotches of red that indicate above-normal fire potential expanding over much of the Mountain West.

New federal funding may help with forest and wildfire management, but there are still hurdles. Increasing firefighter wages still can’t always contend with skyrocketing housing costs and burnout from long seasons. Funds may also help pay for supplies, but supply chain issues still make certain supplies hard to get.