National Interagency Fire Center

Seventy one wildland firefighters from Australia and New Zealand arrive in the United States this week to help fight wildfires. Mutual wildland fire assistance between the countries goes back several decades.

Weather and fire forecasters say western Montana will be at elevated risk for serious wildfires until autumn arrives.

Fire experts are sticking to their predictions of a later-than-normal start and end to Montana’s summer wildfire season. Increased fire activity could be just around the corner.

An unusually dry winter fueled expectations of a long and active fire season throughout the Northern Rockies. Fire experts, however, say the reality may be more nuanced than that.

State and federal officials say they're ready for fire season despite a below average water supply.

Bone dry conditions, powerful winds and multiple new wildfire starts kept ground and air firefighting resources busy in recent days. Evacuation orders are in effect northwest of Polson due to the Nirada Fire.

Wildfire activity across the country is below normal this year. As the summer fire season starts to ramp up, experts ask the public to help prevent unnecessary fires.

Montana’s cool, wet spring and early summer is on the cusp of giving way to hotter and drier conditions. The summer wildfire season will soon ramp up, though potential for significant fires remains normal this month.

Montana fire officials are reminding the public of fire danger across the state approaching the Fourth of July holiday. The Flathead, Lolo and Bitterroot National Forests are all currently under moderate fire danger.

Potential for significant wildland fire is anticipated to be normal this June, according to the latest forecast from the National Interagency Fire Center. However, that could change later this summer, especially in areas east of the Continental Divide.