Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

The fire preparedness level for the Northern Rockies region dropped this week.

Aerial attacks on the Mount Helena Fire were halted for 12 minutes Sunday afternoon after a drone was spotted on the scene.

A state commission wants to allocate a total of $645,000 to help with damages caused by recent flooding in central Montana.

More than 50 fires were burning in the state as of Friday afternoon, including eight started in the last 24 hours.

Because trees can capture and store carbon, forests play a big role in tackling climate change. Recently, however, a study found that insects and diseases are threatening forests' carbon storage potential.

Cooler temperatures in the 50s to low 60s and higher humidity are helping firefighters contain the South Moccasin Fire burning northwest of Lewistown in Fergus County. In southeast Montana, the Coal Bank Fire burning 18 miles southwest of Ashland in Rosebud County, continues to grow. It’s now estimated at 6,100 acres and is 45% contained.

Montana officials say the current drought may continue if we don’t see wetter, cooler months soon.

Wildfire evacuations and restrictions are rolling back across Montana amid widespread precipitation and cooler temperatures. But Montana’s 2021fire season is by no means over.

Montana is experiencing severe drought this year that’s fueling wildfires, killing crops and leaving rivers running low and warm. Freddy Monares talks with MTPR's Shaylee Ragar about the impacts of the extreme conditions, and what the state can do about it now and in the future.

When a wildfire ignites in rural Montana, it’s likely a volunteer firefighter who responds. But those volunteers are aging.