Missoula County Sheriff's deputies were blanketing the county on Tuesday issuing evacuation warnings to residents near the Lolo Creek Fire, The Rice Ridge Fire and the Sapphire Complex near Rock Creek.
The valleys of Montana are susceptible to temperature inversions which we're experiencing now. These inversions essentially trap particulates in the valleys, causing poor air quality.
Over the weekend, Missoula and western Montana residents were wondering if they would ever see the sun again, but Monday morning brought clear skies, and new hope,
Missoula air quality deemed unhealthy by the Missoula City County Health Department. Sarah Coefield said it could worsen to Very Unhealthy later today.
Wildfire smoke continues to plague western Montana valleys. Air Quality is at unhealthy levels throughout the area, and worse in the Bitterroot Valley.