Dry Weather Prompting Fire Fears

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The risk of grass fires has spiked in some areas of Wyoming amid a fairly long spell of unusually warm and dry weather.

Strong wind and dry conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning Tuesday across a swath of southeast Wyoming from Glendo and Pine Bluffs.

Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser says Wyoming has seen several grass and range fires lately. Among them was a small grass fire that came within a few hundred feet of South High School in Cheyenne.

Other small fires have broken out in recent days in the Chugwater area and in Jackson Hole.

A fair amount of snow remains at higher elevations and the risk of forest fires remains low but mountain snow moisture is below normal in much of Wyoming