Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

About 100 people went to a hearing in Kalispell Tuesday in a lawsuit aimed at preventing a water bottling plant from producing and distributing its product.

Montana’s wildfire season is slowing down and trending well below average in the number of fires, acres burned and cost to the state.

The forecast of the state’s 2018 fire bill is only a sliver of the cost of last year’s historic fire season, according to a report from legislative researchers published Wednesday. 

A contested water bottling plant outside Kalispell has begun operating and distributing as Flathead County grapples with how to interpret new zoning regulations the plant’s opponents say should shut it down.

Montana Artesian Water Company is stocking its water bottles at a local convenience store and at a few area offices and events under a private label.

All Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions have been lifted across northwest Montana.

Put simply, that means campfires and outdoor smoking is allowed again. Restrictions have also been lifted on operating equipment.