Montana Wildfires

Fall burning season opened in Missoula County on October 1st for essential agriculture and prescribed wildland projects.

The fires are being set now to help with forest management and wildfire prevention

It's last call for anyone interested in a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a smokejumper firefighter.

The end of fire season or concerns for air quality in Montana's Missoula, Ravalli, and Lake Counties is not coming anytime soon.

The Garceau Fire that has been burning on the Flathead Reservation since August 16 is now in the mop-up stage.

Due to severe and widespread thunderstorms and lightning across the Lolo National Forest, firefighters were actively responding to multiple smoke reports.

“With the ground applied units our employees will go around and put an application by the ground that can be a lot more accurate,” he said.

The National Weather Service reports that over 200 lightning strikes in the western Montana area late Friday resulted in numerous small fires being battled over the weekend.

The Elmo Fire burning near the west shore of Flathead Lake is now almost two-thirds contained.

This Living with Fire page is hosted by the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation. Check current active fires, how to prepare your home in advance, and make your community more fire safe.