The latest news on wildfires around western Montana.
Recent weather has been mostly good for firefighters in western Montana, but has also sparked a few small new fires and made air quality worse.
The air in West Yellowstone was called hazardous at one point today. Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality is now calling it “good.”
At this hour the air in Thompson Falls is being called “unhealthy,” and “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in Frenchtown, Missoula, Hamilton and Seeley Lake.
Air quality is being called “moderate” in the Flathead Valley and Butte.
In Yellowstone National Park a forecast for severe fire weather through Friday has officials concerned. They’re expecting increasing and erratic winds from dry thunderstorms.
There will be a community meeting in West Yellowstone about the fires Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at the LDS church.
All entrances to Yellowstone National Park are now open, as are all concession services and businesses.
Fire Information Officer Bill Swartley:
“And we’re just asking people to be mindful of the fires that are ongoing, the firefighter traffic and if they do run into low-level ground smoke just put your headlights on to increase your visibility.”
At least one campground and several trails are closed, however, due to the four fires burning inside the park, which total more than 44,000 acres in size.
The Copper King Fire near Thompson Falls moderated yesterday due to smoke and cloud cover. Today firefighters were hoping that temperatures in the low 80s and higher humidity levels would help them out, but are wary of potentially gusting winds from the lingering storm system.
