Obama Declares Montana a Disaster Area

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration allowing federal aid to assist with repairs to public infrastructure damaged by wildfires in two Montana counties and an Indian reservation.

Obama signed the declaration on Thursday for Powder River and Rosebud counties and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer requested the declaration on July 26 for the areas with damage to public infrastructure due to the Ash Creek Fire. The governor's office says a preliminary damage assessment put the damages at $1.6 million, most of which is to Tongue River Electric Co-op infrastructure.

The damages to property owned by the tribe are estimated at nearly $20,000.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says additional funding designations may be made later if further assessments show more damage.