The Bitterroot National Forest released its final plan for motorized use in the 1.6 million acre forest after nine years and a record 13,400 comments received from the public.
Firefighters have responded to and extinguished over 30 wildfires in the Bitterroot National Forest this summer, but 18 new wildfires were started by lightning this week and all but four are currently contained.
Lightning has been keeping firefighters busy all over the northwest the past few days. Hamilton firefighters responded to two blazes that started late Tuesday, August 4, and continue to burn in the Sapphire Mountains.