Phil Higuera

New research led by a University of Montana professor shows wildfires in the West are destroying more homes per square mile burned than in previous years. Fire ecologist Philip Higuera is the lead author on the publication and spoke with Montana Public Radio’s Austin Amestoy.

High winds, months of drought and record temperatures fueled wildfires in central Montana this week that burned thousands of acres. Dozens of homes, grain elevators and bridges have been lost. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar talked to some of those impacted by the fires.

This episode features Dr. Philip Higuera, professor of Fire Ecology, and Kyra Wolf, Ph.D. candidate in Systems Ecology both at the University of Montana’s Franke College of Forestry and Conservation. Phil and Kyra and their colleague Bryan Shuman recently published some alarming findings on what we’re experiencing right now with wildfire. The title speaks for itself: “Rocky Mountain sub-alpine forests now burning more than any time in recent millennia.” That should get our attention.

Montana’s governor declared Thursday a statewide drought emergency ahead of the Fourth of July and amid extremely dry conditions.In his emergency…

The National Interagency Fire Center Tuesday bumped the national preparedness level up a notch to its next-to-highest rating.The agency says this is the…

Since COVID-19 shut down research deemed “non-essential” across the state, Some scientists are now bringing their work home with them.This story is part…

In the forests of the Rocky Mountains, fewer trees are growing back after recent wildfires because of climate change. That’s what a team of researchers…

Wildfires burned more than a million acres across Montana this year, making it one of the most expensive fire seasons since 1999. While the smoke has…

Across the state this summer, tens of thousands of Montanans had to face the challenge of living with big wildfires. Some people lost their homes, two…