Firefighters have responded to and extinguished over 30 wildfires in the Bitterroot National Forest this summer, but 18 new wildfires were started by lightning this week and all but four are currently contained.

Tod McKay with BNF said fire danger is currently "very high," and under these conditions, fires will start easily and spread rapidly, but also have a quick increase in intensity, right after ignition.

The four fires which have yet to be contained are all relatively small — about a quarter of an acre or less — and all have firefighters on scene working to contain them.

McKay said recent weather activity hasn't been all too helpful either. More than 400 lightning strikes have hit the forest in the past 48 hours alone. Low humidity, hot temperatures and gusty winds are expected to continue for the rest of the week.

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