A report by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana revealed that summer wildfires and the smoke that blanketed much of the state may have cost over $240 million in tourism dollars.
As the Rice Ridge Fire raged this summer, the residents in and around Seeley Lake suffered through historically hazardous smoke, day in and day out, and now, scientists are studying its effects.
As summer turns to fall, the wildfire season is nowhere near over, and UM Athletic Department officials are checking their policies on wildfire smoke for both practices and games.
Well, today’s the big day of the total solar eclipse. And the only thing that could mar the event for the thousands of Missoulians who will be crowding parks to watch the event..is the weather, and the smoke.
Air quality specialists are frustrated year after year when the American Lung Association names Missoula as one of the worst cities in America for small particle pollution, making the air unhealthy for certain populations.
One picture paints a thousand words, so below, here is a photo of the wildfire smoke heading into the western Montana.
Sarah Coefield with the Missoula City-County Health Department says it may be time to buckle in.
The Missoula City County Health Department said yesterday that west winds have brought dense smoke into the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley, making air quality unhealthy.
The smoke pouring into western Montana valleys is coming from fires in British Columbia and from central and eastern Washington, according to the National Weather Service.