Representative Ryan Zinke Visits Glacier Rim Fire – Containment Remains at 25 Percent

Congressman Ryan Zinke toured the Flathead Valley and the Hungry Horse Ranger Station earlier this week and said that fire season has certainly descended upon Northern Montana.

Zinke got a first hand look at the Glacier Rim Fire and said he was pleased with the level of containment fire crews have been able to make since the fire began.

"You know it's just nice to be out talking to them and thank them for what they do and obviously the fuel load in the forest is much too hot. You know looking at it and seeing it and seeing what they face," Zinke said.

Zinke hopes to soon propose legislation that will enable the forest service and other agencies to better manage dead and dying timber, which he said was a major problem on the Glacier Rim Fire.

"This is what happens when you don't salvage projects for timber," Zinke said. "They're fighting right now in an area that probably should have been salvaged but wasn't. And this is not the isolated case, this is across Montana."