With the state's fire season fully underway, the State Insurance Commissioner encourages residents, especially in the wildland urban interface, to check their homeowners policy for coverage.
Wildfires are emerging all over western Montana, and the concern exists with revenue triggers looming, that the state will not have enough money in the budget to effectively fight all the fires.
The Lolo Peak Fire is just one of many small blazes that are burning around western Montana, dropping the Missoula valley's official air quality from 'Good' to 'Moderate'.
Following last year's devastating Roaring Lion Fire, which destroyed 16 homes and cost millions of dollars to fight, the DNRC is encouraging homeowners to prepare their homes for wildfire season.
The western United States has been hit hard over the last decade by what are being called 'Mega Fires', and a public event to discuss the issue is planned for Missoula.