Our Viewpoint: It's still dry out there

As the smoke started rolling in last week, it reminded me that it's still technically summer for a few more weeks, and that it's still really dry out there.

Last week we had two human-caused wildfires in Sanders County. The Mile Marker 104 fire near Dixon is nearing containment after burning nearly 500 acres. Then on Saturday there was a small fire outside Thompson Falls in the Cherry Creek area, near a popular swimming hole at the mouth of Prospect Creek.

Fall is just around the corner and the nights are getting cooler. However, driving anywhere in the county you can see how dry it is. It's important to take extreme caution when driving or recreating anywhere in the county. Area agencies returned fire danger ratings to high last week.

Taking precautions to be safe outdoors helps protect your property, that of your neighbors, and the open spaces that we love to enjoy.

The snow will soon creep down the mountains and the days will get shorter. For now, we need to remember what Smokey Bear has been telling us since 1947: "Only you can prevent wildfires." You can find updated information on fire restrictions at http://www.mtfireinfo.org.

— Annie Wooden