Governor gives Montana fire update
Eugene Beckes photo
A helicopter prepares to make a bucket drop on a hot spot after refilling at Mission Reservoir on Sept. 3.
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News from the office of the Governor
MONTANA — As of Tuesday, Aug. 31, at around 2 p.m., there were 18 large fire incidents in Montana. The state is in preparedness level 3. Since Jan. 1, there have been over 2,160 fire starts in Montana burning around 827,000 acres. Since the governor’s last fire briefing, there have been over 70 new fire starts. Officials estimate approximately 50 residences have been lost this year to date.
The largest, and top priority, fire in Montana is the Woods Creek Fire, at 55,000 acres and 90 percent containment. Montana entered the fiscal year with the Fire Suppression Fund at its statutory maximum of roughly $105 million. Officials estimate that $48.5 million from the fund have been spent fighting fire since the start of the state’s current fire season.
