Montana Deparment of Natural Resources and Conservation

Rain and cooler temperatures helped firefighters make progress this weekend on two large, aggressive wild fires in central and eastern Montana.

Montana’s current weather pattern of cooler temperatures and wetter conditions has helped firefighters push containment of the nearly 13,000-acre South Moccasin Fire burning northwest of Lewistown in Fergus County to 100%.

Montana’s hot dry conditions are prompting counties to issue fire restrictions in an effort to prevent human caused wildfires.

Last week’s helicopter crash at the Deep Creek Canyon Fire southeast of Helena was preventable, according to a new report from the Montana department in charge of the craft.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) plans to award $500 grants to homeowners for fire protection. NFPA is pushing homeowners in wildfire-prone…