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Whitefish is issuing a fire advisory due to recent hot and dry weather, the city announced Friday afternoon.

The fire advisory is meant to alert Whitefish residents and business of the current fire conditions and that care is needed for recreational fires, use of motorized vehicles and smoking, the city said in its notice.

“Please use caution and have readily available means of extinguishment, such as a fire extinguisher or garden hose,” the city said.

The fire danger is currently very high due to low moisture content of grasses, brush and timber along with a longterm forecast of high temperatures with minimal precipitation.

Flathead County on Wednesday implemented Stage II fire restrictions for areas outside city limits. Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest and the state followed suit on Friday morning due to extreme wildfire danger.

Stage II restrictions ban all open burning, including campfires, on private land and restrict vehicles to designated roads and trails. Smoking is not allowed unless within an enclosed vehicle, building or developed recreation site.

If conditions continue as is, the city says it may also have to implement Stage II fire restrictions.

“Precipitation does not seem likely in current weather forecasts,” the city said in its notice. “If relief is not seen in the very near future, the City of Whitefish will likely be issuing Phase II Fire Restrictions along with Flathead County and other state and national agencies.”

Under Stage II restrictions, equipment operation involving internal combustion engines is prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Devices fueled by liquid petroleum are allowed, but should be used in a area cleared of flammable material within three feet of the device. Generators with an approved spark arresting device can also be used when flammable material has been removed within three feet. Barbecue grills can also be used again provided if the area has been cleared and a water hose is nearby.

The intent of the restrictions is to effectively reduce the number of human-caused fires during periods of very high fire to extreme fire danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition, according to the Flathead Area Interagency Fire officials.

There have been 219 wildfire incidents reported in the Flathead since July 1.

For more information on fire restrictions, visit https://firerestrictions.us/mt/.