EDITORIAL: Don't take chances with fire risk

Is it hot enough for you yet?

For those who haven’t noticed, we’re all sweating through what will likely be the hottest and driest June in recorded history in the Flathead Valley.

That’s on top of a warm and record dry May.

Today’s temperature, as promised (or is it threatened?) by the National Weather Service, might top the 100-degree mark. That would certainly put a torrid exclamation point on this sweltering month.

The extreme heat wave also is likely to increase our already-high fire danger, just in time for the Fourth of July and the thousand points of ignition that fireworks season represents.

We’ve fielded numerous calls from readers this week wondering why fireworks stands are open across the valley and how there could be no restrictions on fireworks use when the fire danger is rising.

The simple answer is that there’s little to no political will to interfere with the pyrotechnic pastime that seizes so many people this time of year. And on top of that, it’s mighty difficult to enforce fireworks transgressions in a sprawling county where thousands of people have amassed arsenals of mortar shells, fountains, firecrackers and aerial displays.

The county may or may not go to restrictions; either way people need to be vigilant.

Fire officials are deferring to the good sense of the citizenry: They advocate that people perhaps should forgo fireworks this year.

That’s a praiseworthy idea: Not only would you save a bundle of money (fireworks are not cheap) but you also can avoid setting your (or your neighbor’s) home, field, barn, etc., on fire.

Perhaps if people follow the fire experts’ advice, too, it might minimize the onslaught of nightly explosions from avid pyromaniacs who think fireworks season lasts a week instead of just July 4.

However you figure it, though, be extremely careful with incendiary devices during the next week. it doesn’t look like there’s any moisture on the horizon to wet things down.

The only bright spot in the next week’s weather forecast is that there is very little chance of lightning predicted. That’s a bright spot because if we were to get lightning storms, the smoke you smell next week might be from forest fires rather than your neighbor’s Fourth of July fireworks.