Red Flag warning issued for Southeast Idaho

A red flag warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Monday for southeast Idaho.

“We do have the potential for fires to grow exponentially today,” said Jeremy Pincock, Pocatello Fire Department’s battalion chief.

The warning applies to most of Southeast Idaho, as far north as Salmon, all the way to Salt Lake City. Even areas of Yellowstone National Park are in danger.

“We do have a weak cold front moving through the area and that’s kicking up the winds… in combination with the dry air that’s out there,” said Alex DeSmet, a meteorologist for the NWS. “We’ve also had a couple of weeks now with very little rainfall, so the grasses and other fuels out there are very dry and are susceptible to fire.”

The warning ends at 8 p.m. Monday because the winds are expected to die down Tuesday and Wednesday.

Despite the short-lived warning, fire departments are prepared.

“We do call in a couple additional units that have come in today to help staff for the red flag warning during the red flag warning period,” Pincock said.

Odds are, if a fire starts, it would be caused by a person.

“When a red flag warning is in effect, there are things we encourage people to do,” DeSmet said.

Double check trailer hitches so that no chains are dragging while driving. Don’t park on top of grass, because the heat from the exhaust could spark dry grass underneath. Limit outdoor burning. “If you’re grilling in the backyard and you’re surrounded by green grass, you’re probably OK. It’s really more for the campfires we’re concerned about, you know, in the back country where they’re surrounded by areas that aren’t irrigated,” DeSmet said.

Keep water and a fire extinguisher near campfires and grills, and make sure the fire is all the way out before going to bed.

“Just make good decisions about burning and take steps to prevent sparks. We like to say, ‘One less spark.’ It only takes one spark to cause a wildfire,” DeSmet said.

While this red flag warning ends quickly, the possibility of a fire starting is still high.

“The outlook for September is calling for below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures. We’ll probably have a couple of cold fronts and some occasional shower activity, but overall, it’s looking like conditions could be favorable to keep fire season going through the month,” DeSmet said.