A wet spring and early summer have produced a healthy crop of grass in Wyoming this year.
Here is an excerpt from an article at Trib.com:
Abundant grass growth resulting from a wet spring and early summer could pose a serious fire risk in Wyoming’s grasslands as the state enters the dry season, fire and natural resource officials said.
Grass is taller than it has been in the past eight to 10 years, particularly in southeast Wyoming.
Parts of the southeast have received more than 150 percent of their historical averages for moisture in the past three months, said Steve Gray, state climatologist. Southeast Wyoming is now entering what’s typically its driest time in July and August.
Laramie County Fire District 2spokesman Lew Simpson said the grass in his county has dried to the point that it could easily burn. Grasses 3- to 4-feet tall may be green on the bottom, but the top half has become dry in the past few days.
“It’s kind of a double-edged sword. It’s good because we’ve had the moisture, but unfortunately the result is increased growth of the grasslands,” Simpson said. “I would say we’re kind of at a critical point where any type of spark or flame can take off on this stuff and we have the potential for a very serious wildfire situation.”
Thanks Dick
