On tonight's evening newscast: A mandatory evacuation of Essex and the surrounding area was ordered around 2:45 p.m. by the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.
Also evacuated today were outfitters camps, cabins and homes south of Interstate 90 near Tarkio, MT. The West Fork Fish Creek Fire had burned to within about three miles of the Clearwater Crossing Campground in the Fish Creek area. Several ranches and structures are threatened by the fire.
Fifteen residents of the Montana Developmental Center will be moved to group homes over the next month, in part because of a staff shortage at the center.
In far northwest Montana, the Clark Fork Complex of six fires continues to threaten homes near the town of Noxon. But fire managers now have a better picture of the challenges they face.
A constitutional challenge to Montana's execution methods is going to trial. A Helena judge said today that the Sept. 2 trial will focus on whether the sedative called for by the state in lethal injections for would cause excruciating and terrifying death. Both sides are planning to present medical experts at trial.