Air quality rapidly deteriorated this afternoon across much of Montana thanks to wildfire smoke. And that smoke is going to stick around for at least a few more days.
At least eight western Montana cities reported air quality that was "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups." That’s the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s way of saying that kids and adults with respiratory disease, like asthma, should limit prolonged exertion outside. Most of the state’s remaining air monitoring stations reported "Moderate" air quality. [Find daily air quality updates here: http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/]
The main culprit? California’s wildfires. Smaller local fires burning in Idaho and Montana aren’t helping clear the air.
Varying amounts of smoke will continue to stream through the Northern Rockies into mid week.
— NWS Missoula (@NWSMissoula) August 24, 2020
Signs of hope arrive Thursday/Friday as westerly flow is expected to suppress smoke further south + east. #mtwx #idwx pic.twitter.com/aXlIOEu8kR
Missoula-City County Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield says it looks like air quality should improve somewhat starting Wednesday.
In the meantime, Montanans are urged to avoid breathing more smoke than necessary and to spend time inside in a place with cleaner air.
A wildfire southeast of Norris is burning roughly 1,700 acres on private, Bureau of Land Management and Montana State University land, according to Inciweb.
The Bradley Creek Fire was first reported August 23 burning in grass, sagebrush and juniper. Its cause is unknown. Madison County, U.S. Forest Service and a state Department of Natural Resource and Conservation County Assist Team are responding with at least 60 personnel and engines, water tenders and heavy equipment. Smoke from the Bradley Creek Fire closed a section of U.S. Highway 287 between mile posts 56 and 65 Sunday.
The Hill Fire 25 miles south of Glasgow has grown to 3,275 acres since it ignited from a lightning strike August 21. Ninety-seven people are assigned to the fire burning west of Fort Peck Lake. The Northern Rockies Coordination Center estimates the fire is 68 percent contained as of 4 p.m. Monday.
Air resources are hitting the Shipp Road Fire burning on private land in Musselshell County. The fire discovered Monday afternoon is estimated between 100 and 200 acres. A helicopter, air attack and two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) are joined on the ground by county and state equipment. Two federal engines are en route, according to the Billings Interagency Dispatch Center. The cause of the Shipp Road Fire is unknown.
Get the latest Montana wildfire, fire management and air quality news on your radio, via podcast, or in your inbox.
Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.
