Montana News Roundup: How Firefighters are Keeping Up

Firefighters are keeping their eyes on the mountains in Western Montana, after the Bitterroot Valley was blasted by more than 800 lightning strikes this past weekend.

Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay says crews put out most of the twelve new fires that ignited, but there's concern for "holdover" fires to pop.

"As often happens when we get big lightning storms like this, it could take a day or two, or even a week or more before we see what we call 'holdover' fires," McKay explains.

McKay says cooperation on the air and on the ground is helping keep up with the new and existing fires.

Bitterroot National Forest officials say an intense aerial attack and a lot of cooperation on the ground are helping the agency keep up with a raft of fire starts in the past couple of weeks.

Even with the lightning and a dozen new fires, BNF spokesman Tod McKay says cooperation with local fire departments is helping to keep the blazes small.

"A huge shoutout to all the Valley fire departments, up and down the Bitterroot Valley. Virtually every one assisted our Forest Service crews responding to all these new starts."

McKay says the Ravalli County Sheriff has also done a great job with evacuations where needed. And having access to large air tankers and multiple helicopters is making a real difference with the initial attack, like last week's Observation Point Fire south of Hamilton.

More fires statewide

A new fire burning in the open country south of Billings has quickly become the largest active fire in the state, with Montana DNRC reporting it had burned nearly 300 acres in just three hours yesterday. The lighting-caused Sucker Creek Fire had burned over 80 acres, 3 miles north of Lincoln, but at last word, no evacuations had been ordered. There have been 28 new fire starts in the past week, most from the weekend thunderstorms.

Missoula loses 200 jobs

Another setback for the Montana forest products industry this week. Michigan-based UFP Industries says it's shutting down its manufacturing operation at the end of September after 5 years in Bonner.

     The Montana Free Press reports the decision to close the operation, which sells home siding, trim, and interior products, will idle 200 workers.

Police training in Billings

If you're in Billings and see a lot of police activity this week, don't be alarmed. It's all part of a training exercise.

Billings Police say they'll be using the facility for the next few days, and that may mean you hear sirens and see other activity, but there's no active incident.

BPD is asking for help with a fatal shooting

Billings Police are reaching out to the public for help as they continue to investigate a fatal shooting last week. 

A Lame Deer man, identified as 19-year-old Wayland Lance Limpy Junior, died from the wounds he received in the shooting Wednesday night in the 700 block of Cook Avenue. 

BPD has posted pictures on Facebook of two people who may have information about the case. The images appear to come from surveillance cameras showing a woman and a blurry image of a man wearing what appears to be a dark hoodie and jeans. 

     ☎️ Contact numbers were included in the post. 

West Nile virus cases climbing

As we move into late summer, we're starting to see the reports of West Nile virus pick up.

Tammie Toren reports the virus has been detected in Cascade County, about 2.5 miles south of Vaughan, according to county officials.

      DPHHS also reports an additional case in Lewis & Clark County, and is following two cases involving horses in Sheridan and Custer counties.

Montana gas prices remain flat

Average gasoline prices in Montana are unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.24 a gallon, according to the latest survey from GasBuddy.com.

That keeps prices in the Treasure State just short of a nickel a gallon cheaper than the end of July last year, and nearly 29-cents a gallon cheaper, on average, than we were paying a year ago. It's also a bargain when compared with the record prices in 2022, when regular was still $4.50 a gallon.

     ⛽️ Driving was a lot more affordable 10 years ago, when the average price in Montana was just $2.83 a gallon.