Firefighting

This summer began with calls for caution by some Montana state agencies warning that the 2015 fire season could be the worst on record.

A political firestorm over firefighting helicopters continues to burn brightly this week. Today, August 27 the USDA and Governor Steve Bullock announced that the policy prohibiting Montana “Huey” helicopters from fighting fires on federal lands was being reconsidered.

The General Accounting Office has upheld a challenge that the U.S. Forest Service wrongly awarded a contract to Neptune Aviation of Missoula, for use of their next-generation air tankers for firefighting this summer.

It's back to school time for most university students Monday, August 26, but instead of pencils and paper, many prospective Montana students are still lugging around firefighting equipment. Luckily, the Montana University System is working to help alleviate the stress those students might have in trying to make it to class before the bell rings.