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Montana’s fire season has wound down, and while it was milder than land managers predicted, data indicate continued drought and high temperatures could lead to more intense fire seasons in the years to come.
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Stage 1 fire restrictions banning campfires and limiting outdoor smoking had been in place since late spring.
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Many forest ecologists say the U.S. Forest Service is hampered by an outdated approach to prescribed fires, a key tool for reducing the threat of megafires made worse by climate change.
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Montana fire officials are reminding the public of fire danger across the state approaching the Fourth of July holiday. The Flathead, Lolo and Bitterroot National Forests are all currently under moderate fire danger.
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The Biden administration made good on a promised, but long-delayed pay raise for federal firefighters on Tuesday. The first of those temporary payments should be delivered next month.
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Federal and state land managers in Montana are not yet fully staffed with their usual number of seasonal firefighters. During its hiring process, the U.S. Forest Service has faced the same workforce shortage pressures affecting the private sector.
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Potential for significant wildland fire is anticipated to be normal this June, according to the latest forecast from the National Interagency Fire Center. However, that could change later this summer, especially in areas east of the Continental Divide.
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Western Montana’s wildfire outlook is still uncertain. Forecasters are watching the precipitation, but say significant wildfires remain a risk in Montana this season.
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The report, spanning several years of data, measured ozone and particle pollution, which are the two most common air pollutants.
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The governor’s letter says state officials have identified almost 4 million acres that are a high priority for fuel reduction work, 60% of which are on federal land. Gianforte says existing initiatives funded on both the state and federal level are helpful, but adds more must be done.
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The agency says its five-year investment in wildfire resilience will help bolster communities and ecosystems against the mounting threat of wildfires.
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According to a new report, COVID-related fatalities accounted for more than a quarter of deaths in the line of duty last year.