Conservation Group Sees Big Drop in Montana Wildfire Prep

A new report warns that a steep drop in federal wildfire prevention work could leave Western communities highly vulnerable heading into fire season.

An analysis by the Center for Western Priorities reveals the U.S. Forest Service treated thirty-5% fewer acres for hazardous fuels in 2025 compared to the previous year. Nationwide, treatment numbers dropped from over 4 million acres down to just 2.6 million acres.

The decline hit local forests especially hard. In Montana, hazardous fuel treatments—which include critical brush clearing, mechanical thinning, and prescribed burns—plummeted by sixty-three percent. The state managed just under 88,000 acres of mitigation work last year, down from nearly 239,000 acres in 2024.

Conservation advocates blame the drop on critical staffing shortfalls and shifting federal suppression policies. They warn that leaving that excess vegetation on the ground, combined with persistent drought conditions, creates a dangerous recipe for catastrophic blazes this summer.

Missoula County re-booting wildfire plan

Missoula County is launching a series of public workshops next month to help update its blueprint for wildfire safety.

Residents are invited to weigh in on the upcoming Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which acts as a guide to understanding local fire risks and lowering the impact of smoke and flames. This marks the first update to the plan since 2018 and will focus heavily on home safety, firefighter preparedness, and smoke readiness.

The public meetings will run from six to seven-thirty p.m., starting June first in Missoula, followed by sessions in Frenchtown, Lolo, and Seeley Lake.

County officials stress the plan is not a regulatory growth policy or an evacuation plan, but a tool to help secure funding for risk-reduction projects. Residents who cannot attend can submit feedback online starting in early June at Missoula County Voice dot com.

New study finds real danger in Montana driving

There's some concerning news this week as we enter the "100 deadliest days", but it's also important because it illustrates two of the primary reasons people are dying on Montana highways.

Traci Taylor reports that a new study has found more people are dying while making two common maneuvers.