Rippey Warns Of Increased Fire Danger Heading Into Labor Weekend

This weekend, for many is considered the unofficial end of summer, and it looks like Mother Nature will try to cooperate.  Temperatures are expected to climb back into the 90s with some locations forecasting triple digits this weekend.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said that will make an already dangerous wildfire environment even worse

"We are going to have to watch a lot of people that head outdoors for the Labor Day weekend," Rippey said.  "Trying to get that last little bit of summer fun in and with the combination of people being outdoors, camp fires, activity over dry grass, whether you're just parking your car, tossing cigarette butts, any human activity can certainly start a wildfire, and that will be a concern with the combined activity with the dry, hot conditions through the Labor Day weekend in many parts of the West, we'll have to watch for a potential ramp up in wildfire activity."

Rippey noted the low humidity expected for the area through Monday will make firefighters nervous.  Could areas of the Northwest see relief soon?

"Now as we head to the far north, there is some prospect for some showers, along and near the Canadian border, northern Washington into Montana," Rippey said.  "But aside from that it looks like dry weather and increasing heat for about the next week.”

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