Wildfires

Late Friday, fire officials, along with the Mineral County Sheriff's Department, lifted the mandatory evacuations around Superior where the West Mullan fire has now reached over 5,000 acres, but is now 30% contained.

Strong weather systems from the south will bring thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds, small hail and heavy, soaking rains. National Weather Service forecaster Corby Dickerson said the weather will be both bad news and good news.

The Western Montana sky exploded with lightning strikes and brief, heavy rains starting at about 6:00 a.m. Monday, as a summer storm swept through the Bitterroot, Missoula, and the Blackfoot areas. The lightning sparked at least two small fires.

19 hotshot firefighters lost their lives on Sunday after being trapped in a raging wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, located northwest of Phoenix. The crew was caught as the fire quickly changed direction and they were forced to deploy their portable fire shelters, but perished in the flames.

Warmer weather is allowing the Bitterroot National Forest to continue it's spring prescribed burning program.

Neptune Aviation expecting Forest Service contracts

Montana’s fire season will officially end at midnight tonight.

Smoke continues to move into Western Montana from Idaho fires.

Typically, Montana's wildfire season would officially end on September 30, but a new proclamation from Montana DNRC Director Mary Sexton and Forestry Division Administrator Bob Harrington will extend Montana’s fire season indefinitely.

As anyone who has spent any time outside on Monday, it's immediately apparent that wildfire smoke is especially bad in the Missoula valley.