wildfire

Tens of millions of Americans experienced at least a day last year shrouded in wildfire smoke. Entire cities were blanketed, in some cases for weeks, as unprecedented wildfires tore across the Western U.S., causing increases in hospitalizations for respiratory emergencies and concerns about people's longer-term health.

A new study finds those concerns are well founded.

Wildfire managers in Eastern Montana say fire season got an early start this year, with more than a dozen burns in the area.

Weather conditions around eastern Montana in January were far from typical, says Scott McAlvoy with BLM’s Eastern Montana Dakota district.

McAlovy, assistant fire management officer, says part of the problem was the lack of any type of snow cover on the ground and some degree of drought ranging from abnormally dry to extreme drought.

Crews are responding to a few wildfires across Montana.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation warning notifications for 33 residences south of Big Sky as local, state and U.S. Forest Service crews work to suppress the approximately 100 acre Porcupine Wildfire.

A nine square mile wildfire burning in the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest is estimated to be 75 percent contained as of Nov. 2.

The Sourdough Fire burning 14 miles west of Dell in southwest Montana was first reported on Oct. 30 burning in timber, brush and short grass.

Twelve aircraft, 11 engines and 54 firefighters are conducting burnout operations and securing the perimeter of the fire.

No structures are currently threatened and no closures are in place at this time.

Officials with the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest are asking for the public’s help in identifying how the Yogo Fire got started.

The Yogo Fire began Oct. 3 in the Judith Musselshell Ranger District in the Little Belt Mountains and burned more than eight square miles of timber and grasses. The fire was considered 100 percent contained as of Oct. 22.