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Tuesday morning Montana news headlines
Posted: Jul 10, 2012 8:09 AM by Mark Thorsell - KPAX News
HAMILTON- Ravalli County commissioners are expected to enact burn bans Tuesday in an effort to cut the risk as they're faced with the rising danger of wildfires in the Bitterroot Valley.Ravalli County was under a Red Flag Warning Monday as temperatures soared to the upper 90s to over 100 degrees. That's drying out the Bitterroot National Forest at a furious pace, and afternoon lightning strikes are also producing the threat of a major fire start. In the valley, brush and grass are also drying out.
KALISPELL- The temperatures in northwest Montana are on the rise and so is fire danger, which officials elevated to "moderate" on Monday because of the hot, dry, windy conditions in the Flathead Valley. Jeremy Pris, a fire program manager, said When you combine those conditions together, the fuels in the valley will dry out quickly.
MISSOULA - A strong storm shot lightning down on Western Montana Monday night with one bolt reportedly touched down near Snowbowl Ski area north of Missoula. The mountain's manager, Pat McKay, said he's on constant lookout for smoke and workers also keep water in their trucks during the summer months.
FRENCHTOWN - Fire officials think crews dismantling a former Smurfit-Stone building might have started a fire Monday from welding sparks. The Frenchtown Rural Fire Department responded to a call around 6 p.m. about smoke billowing from one of the Smurfit-Stone plant structures.
LINCOLN- The U.S. Forest Service has determined a suitable repository site for mine waste from the Mike Horse Dam east of Lincoln after reviewing public comments and technical analysis.The area is known as section 35 and lies north of Highway 279 and east of the Blackfoot River.
MISSOULA - As temperatures reach their peak during the summer, paying attention to the dangers could save lives. Every year, about 30 children in America die from being left unattended in hot cars. Because children are less able to regulate their body temperatures, heat can be especially dangerous. The greatest heat stress for both children and adults is between noon and four.
HELENA- Justin Bianco hit a pair of home runs and drove in four runs as the Missoula Osprey snapped a two-game slide with a 12-2 win over the Helena Brewers on Monday. Bianco, who finished with three hits and three runs scored, became the 26th player to have a multi-home run game in Osprey history.
Chrissy Kohler's StormTracker Weather Center forecast: We have already seen several hot days here in Western Montana for the beginning of July and we're going to continue to see the heat for the rest of the week. On top of that, our pattern of afternoon thunderstorms will continue as well increasing the fire danger in Western Montana.
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