What To Know About Montana's Increasing Fire Danger

Fire forecasters say a lack of precipitation in recent weeks means fire danger in Eastern Montana will be "above normal" somewhat sooner than expected in earlier forecasts.

The June 1st outlook from the Predictive Services forecasters at the National Interagency Fire Center is shifting the fire risk for the eastern counties in the state, and into North Dakota to start as soon as this month. They say that the higher threat of wildfire will likely continue into August, when the risk typically falls after summer monsoon thunderstorms develop.

Recent rains west of the Divide have helped cut the risk of an "above normal" fire season, perhaps not developing until August. Although some locations, like the Kootenai-Cabinet, the Bitterroot, and Southwest Montana, could see a higher risk as soon as July, expanding to include the Missoula area and the Lower Clark Fork in August.

🔥 There's uncertainty because of the shift from La Niña to El Niño weather patterns, but still some thinking that monsoonal thunderstorms may erase that risk late in the summer, leaving a "normal" risk of wildfires in September statewide.

Governor says state is ready

After receiving his annual fire briefing this week, Governor Greg Gianforte is expressing confidence that the collaboration between state, local, and federal firefighters is ready to meet whatever the summer brings.

"We've invested in some new technologies," Gianforte told me after the briefing. "We have state resources, our National Guard is trained up, and we have contractors ready to go to work, and we have collaborative agreements with neighboring states."

So, I just want to praise our firefighters, dispatchers, 1st responders. Last year, DNRC kept 94% of the fires under their direct protection to 10 acres or less. -Gov. Gianforte

"That's good news. We're gonna, this year again, pursue an aggressive attack on all wildland fires, provided we can keep our firefighters safe."

Gianforte believes changes at the federal level have also helped remove some of the state's frustration with previous Forest Service administrators, who he felt weren't being aggressive enough in fighting fires.