Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff issued an evacuation order northwest of Lincoln due to the nearby Black Mountain Fire.

As wildfire season winds down, late summer and early fall prescribed burning is picking up throughout Montana.

A district court judge has ruled several areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the Rockies have harmed grizzly bear populations and recovery efforts.

An internet service provider says it will use tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access in western Montana. Officials with Montana’s national forests say prescribed burning is set to begin and run through the spring season. The Missoula Police Department says three female juveniles were taken into custody Wednesday regarding alleged threats made against Hellgate High School.

Conservation group Trout Unlimited is getting $40 million from the federal government to fund watershed restoration efforts in national forests across the country, including here in Montana.

Forest officials are asking people to avoid the Rodney Ridge trail during the burn, and be cautious around fire personnel and engines.

Missoula District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that the forest service improperly exempted the Stonewall project from management rules aimed at maintaining elk herds in the area.

For the second time in as many months, a Montana national forest is warning of elevated fire danger. Human-caused fires this week in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are diverting firefighting resources usually reserved for fire prevention work this time of year.

With the onset of shorter days and crisp, cool weather, fire season may now seem like a distant memory but Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest officials say nine human-caused fires have started on the forest since the beginning of October.

Pre-evacuation warnings are in effect due to a fire near the Blacktail Ski Area, and Stage 1 fire restrictions are now in effect on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.