wildfire

Nearly 45-million acres of national forest lands that have been protected for 25 years could open up to logging. The Trump administration Tuesday proposed a new regulation that would remove what’s known as the “roadless rule.” MTPR’s Aaron Bolton spoke with Ellis Juhlin from the Montana Free Press about the latest in a decades-old fight over where the federal government allows logging.

Feeling especially tired, irritable, unfocused, physically ill and even depressed these days? You’re not the only one. Heavy wildfire smoke from Oregon and Washington is making air quality across the state unhealthy, which comes with several impacts.

At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the Beaverhead County Sheriff, in coordination with fire officials and local cooperators, ordered evacuations to begin for Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain, including all communities south to Shale Creek and Clark Creek on the north end of Grasshopper Valley.

The Bitterroot National Forest Friday raised its fire danger level to "Extreme," the highest level. Under these conditions fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely.

Montana fire officials are bracing for another round of critical fire weather this weekend. Any fires that develop over the next several days will spread rapidly and be very difficult to control.

The Granite County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order at 11 a.m. Thursday for residents within the Frogpond Basin due to the nearby Moose Fire. Residents are directed to evacuate immediately. Deputies are conducting door-to-door notifications to inform residents of this status change.

The Flathead County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order at 3 p.m. Saturday for areas near Olney due to the nearby Skillet fire.

Officials say residents near a wildfire burning in Flathead County should prepare to evacuate on a moment’s notice. The warning comes ahead of what has the potential to be a very active wildfire weekend in western Montana.

Forecasters say a high-pressure system will continue to send smoke from wildfires in Oregon and Washington for the foreseeable future. Montana's mule deer population is on an upswing, according to survey results released by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.

As fire season heats up across Montana, officials say people living in areas prone to wildfires should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.