Montana Wildfires

Wildfires are flaring up across Montana, sparked by a barrage of lightning. Firefighters are on the front lines, battling blazes that sprung up in a matter of hours.

Firefighters spent the morning wrapping the old McCart fire lookout station in the Bitterroot National Forest with what looks like tin foil (it's not). The Johnson Ridge fire appears to be approaching the structure from the south.

Despite initial fears of a severe fire season, recent weather improvements in the Northern Rockies may reduce wildfire risks this summer.

The devastating fire near Flathead Lake in 2021 destroyed 14 homes and 17 structures, and forced mass evacuations in the region.

The Garceau Fire that has been burning on the Flathead Reservation since August 16 is now in the mop-up stage.

“With the ground applied units our employees will go around and put an application by the ground that can be a lot more accurate,” he said.

The Elmo Fire burning near the west shore of Flathead Lake is now almost two-thirds contained.

Our news team spoke to Fire Information Officer Kelli Roemer on Thursday for the latest update on the human-caused fire.

The Weasel Fire is burning in steep, heavily timbered terrain near the U.S. Canadian Border in the Rexford-Fortine Ranger District.

The Moose Fire burning near Salmon Idaho in the Salmon-Challis National Forest has been burning since July 17 and has consumed nearly 60,000 acres, primarily in wilderness areas.