Field techs, data-crunchers, researchers, fire techs fired: “Losing people in these roles is like firing all primary care doctors and leaving only EMTs… As many people know from emergency room bills, preventing emergencies is less costly than dealing with the damage later.“ #MTFire #USFS #MTNews
Logging isn't a simple solution for wildfire risk. Clear-cutting can dry out soil and vegetation, potentially increasing fire risk short-term.
Managing forests well requires gathering data on how these forests are changing
Managing forests well requires gathering data on how these forests are changing
Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year
Uncertainty from Washington along with staff and budget cuts have created turmoil for the US Forest Service’s fire management efforts.
buff.ly
April 24, 2025 at 3:01 AM
MONTANA: “ESSEX — A $2.6 million federal grant has been awarded to Flathead Electric Cooperative to help reduce wildfire danger near Glacier National Park.” www.kpax.com/news/local-n... - KPAX
#MTFire #MTwx
#MTFire #MTwx
Flathead Electric Cooperative receives $2.6M+ grant to mitigate wildfire risks
A $2.6 million federal grant has been awarded to Flathead Electric Cooperative to help reduce wildfire danger in the Essex area.
www.kpax.com
December 8, 2024 at 10:39 PM
MONTANA: “ESSEX — A $2.6 million federal grant has been awarded to Flathead Electric Cooperative to help reduce wildfire danger near Glacier National Park.” www.kpax.com/news/local-n... - KPAX
#MTFire #MTwx
#MTFire #MTwx
ICYMI: “Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for water shortages and wildfires” abcnews.com/US/wireStory... - ABC News
#CAFire #CAwx #COFire #COwx #Climate #Drought #Environment #Hydrology #IDFire #IDwx #MTFire #MTwx #ORFire #SnowDrought #UTFire #UTwx #Wildfires
#CAFire #CAwx #COFire #COwx #Climate #Drought #Environment #Hydrology #IDFire #IDwx #MTFire #MTwx #ORFire #SnowDrought #UTFire #UTwx #Wildfires
Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for water shortages and wildfires
Except for California, most Western states are experiencing the worst snow drought in decades not because of dry conditions but really warm temperatures that change snow to rain
abcnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:55 PM
ICYMI: “Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for water shortages and wildfires” abcnews.com/US/wireStory... - ABC News
#CAFire #CAwx #COFire #COwx #Climate #Drought #Environment #Hydrology #IDFire #IDwx #MTFire #MTwx #ORFire #SnowDrought #UTFire #UTwx #Wildfires
#CAFire #CAwx #COFire #COwx #Climate #Drought #Environment #Hydrology #IDFire #IDwx #MTFire #MTwx #ORFire #SnowDrought #UTFire #UTwx #Wildfires
NWS offices with no meteorologist-in-charge:
“It’s like driving down the road with bald tires. You might get 1,000 miles. You might get 10 miles. To some extent, you don’t know. You’re just engaging in a risky behavior.”
W. MT & N. Central ID: That’s us now, sez this.🔥💨🥶
#MTNews #MTPol #MTFire
“It’s like driving down the road with bald tires. You might get 1,000 miles. You might get 10 miles. To some extent, you don’t know. You’re just engaging in a risky behavior.”
W. MT & N. Central ID: That’s us now, sez this.🔥💨🥶
#MTNews #MTPol #MTFire
The National Weather Service is in worse shape than previously known, according to interviews with current and former meteorologists, due to layoffs and other vacancies. cnn.it/4cY0np3
US weather forecasting is more crippled than previously thought as hurricane season nears | CNN
Several current and former agency meteorologists and staff told CNN they are concerned warnings won’t be issued in time as hurricane season nears.
cnn.it
May 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Seeley Lake, 2017: “Right after the (Rice Ridge Fire), about 10% of the cohort had lung function…below the lower limit of normal. By the 1-year mark, about 46% did. At the 2-year mark, most of those people still had abnormally poor lung function.” #MTFire #MTSmoke www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
America’s Coming Smoke Epidemic
The research on what smoke does to a body is just beginning.
www.theatlantic.com
June 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Seeley Lake, 2017: “Right after the (Rice Ridge Fire), about 10% of the cohort had lung function…below the lower limit of normal. By the 1-year mark, about 46% did. At the 2-year mark, most of those people still had abnormally poor lung function.” #MTFire #MTSmoke www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Three USFS research stations are in MT. “The Budget does not request new funding for Forest and Rangeland Research…” = their budgets become $0.
See Jim’s full 🧵for a quick intro to the Forest Service’s century+ of research, which flies well below people’s radars. #MTFire #MTNews #MTPol #MTUSFS
See Jim’s full 🧵for a quick intro to the Forest Service’s century+ of research, which flies well below people’s radars. #MTFire #MTNews #MTPol #MTUSFS
There are 6 Forest Service research stations that also manage research labs, 80 experimental forests, a forest product laboratory, & the International Institute of Tropical Forestry. This is the most extensive natural resource research operation in the world--a hidden crown jewel of our country. 2/
June 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“Wildfire mitigation bill described as good first step to deal with climate change in Montana” dailymontanan.com/2025/03/06/w... - @dailymontanan.com
#ClimateChange #Montana #MTFire #Wildfires
#ClimateChange #Montana #MTFire #Wildfires
Wildfire mitigation bill described as step to deal with climate change
Wildfire mitigation bill described as good first step to deal with climate change, supported in House with 98 yes votes.
dailymontanan.com
March 6, 2025 at 9:41 PM
“Wildfire mitigation bill described as good first step to deal with climate change in Montana” dailymontanan.com/2025/03/06/w... - @dailymontanan.com
#ClimateChange #Montana #MTFire #Wildfires
#ClimateChange #Montana #MTFire #Wildfires
There’ll be too few wildland🔥fighters for the ‘25 season. “Avey estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 staff have left the Forest Service as of April.” (Fed. regs 🚫rehiring red-carded, recently-fired staff.) By @rchaney.bsky.social.
Call Sen. Sheehy. #MTFire #MTNews
mountainjournal.org/white-house-...
Call Sen. Sheehy. #MTFire #MTNews
mountainjournal.org/white-house-...
Draft National Wildfire Plan Under White House Consideration Returns Firefighting ‘to the 1930s,’ Experts Say
On the cusp of wildfire season, a new proposal recommends consolidating all federal firefighting resources, calls for immediate fire suppression.
mountainjournal.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
There’ll be too few wildland🔥fighters for the ‘25 season. “Avey estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 staff have left the Forest Service as of April.” (Fed. regs 🚫rehiring red-carded, recently-fired staff.) By @rchaney.bsky.social.
Call Sen. Sheehy. #MTFire #MTNews
mountainjournal.org/white-house-...
Call Sen. Sheehy. #MTFire #MTNews
mountainjournal.org/white-house-...
“Modeling finds old-growth wildfire risk highest where low-severity fires once burned” phys.org/news/2026-02... - @sciencex.bsky.social
#BCWildfire #Forests #Idaho #MTFire #PacificNorthwest #PNW #WashingtonState #Wildfires
#BCWildfire #Forests #Idaho #MTFire #PacificNorthwest #PNW #WashingtonState #Wildfires
Modeling finds old-growth wildfire risk highest where low-severity fires once burned
A new analysis shows that the Pacific Northwest's mature and old-growth forests are most at risk of severe wildfire in areas that historically burned frequently at lower severity. The study by scienti...
phys.org
February 4, 2026 at 12:09 AM
“Modeling finds old-growth wildfire risk highest where low-severity fires once burned” phys.org/news/2026-02... - @sciencex.bsky.social
#BCWildfire #Forests #Idaho #MTFire #PacificNorthwest #PNW #WashingtonState #Wildfires
#BCWildfire #Forests #Idaho #MTFire #PacificNorthwest #PNW #WashingtonState #Wildfires
I quoted @jimwhittington.bsky.social in the prior post - #2: “Stings are common. Firefighters wear yellow shirts to have visibility to aircraft, digging line often upsets nests, & bees & other angry stinging insects are drawn to the shirts. If a crew has no epi pens, they aren't functional.” #MTFire
May 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I quoted @jimwhittington.bsky.social in the prior post - #2: “Stings are common. Firefighters wear yellow shirts to have visibility to aircraft, digging line often upsets nests, & bees & other angry stinging insects are drawn to the shirts. If a crew has no epi pens, they aren't functional.” #MTFire
We’re trading coordinated expertise, professionalism, research & culture in wildland🔥fighting for MT Sen. Sheehy’s vision:
“What if the fire’s incident commander is from corporate and has the Secretary and OMB Chief on speed dial? Who decides which values at risk have the highest priority?” #MTFire
“What if the fire’s incident commander is from corporate and has the Secretary and OMB Chief on speed dial? Who decides which values at risk have the highest priority?” #MTFire
NEW: No fuel for chainsaws. Expired medical supplies.
The approaching wildfire season is going to be even riskier for firefighters this year - among the staff cuts from the Trump admin also lies cuts to supply funds firefighters need immediate access to.
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The approaching wildfire season is going to be even riskier for firefighters this year - among the staff cuts from the Trump admin also lies cuts to supply funds firefighters need immediate access to.
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
'Risk to public safety': Wildfire season may be unpredictable after federal budget slashing hits supplies, support staff, crews say
Fuel for chainsaws. Food and water for Pulaski-toting firefighters doing the exhaustive work of digging fire lines. Ample first aid kits with spendy epi-pens in case a wildland firefighter steps on a ...
www.spokesman.com
May 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
We’re trading coordinated expertise, professionalism, research & culture in wildland🔥fighting for MT Sen. Sheehy’s vision:
“What if the fire’s incident commander is from corporate and has the Secretary and OMB Chief on speed dial? Who decides which values at risk have the highest priority?” #MTFire
“What if the fire’s incident commander is from corporate and has the Secretary and OMB Chief on speed dial? Who decides which values at risk have the highest priority?” #MTFire
“University of Montana studies highlight wildfire impact on reforestation” www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/uni... - Non Stop Local Montana
#Forestry #MTFire #Wildfire #Wildfires
#Forestry #MTFire #Wildfire #Wildfires
University of Montana studies highlight wildfire impact on reforestation
MONTANA - Two recent studies from the University of Montana reveal that increasing wildfires and rising temperatures in the western U.S. are challenging the capacity for reforestation.
www.montanarightnow.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:38 PM
“University of Montana studies highlight wildfire impact on reforestation” www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/uni... - Non Stop Local Montana
#Forestry #MTFire #Wildfire #Wildfires
#Forestry #MTFire #Wildfire #Wildfires
UNITED STATES: “A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the West is introducing a bill to combat "catastrophic" wildfires and overhaul forest management.” www.axios.com/local/salt-l... - Axios Salt Lake City
#CAFire #COFire #MTFire #uspoli #UTFire #Wildfires
#CAFire #COFire #MTFire #uspoli #UTFire #Wildfires
Western lawmakers aim to confront wildfire crisis through joint legislation
1,244 wildfires were reported in Utah in 2024, up 54% from 2023.
www.axios.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:42 PM
UNITED STATES: “A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the West is introducing a bill to combat "catastrophic" wildfires and overhaul forest management.” www.axios.com/local/salt-l... - Axios Salt Lake City
#CAFire #COFire #MTFire #uspoli #UTFire #Wildfires
#CAFire #COFire #MTFire #uspoli #UTFire #Wildfires
Plan “go” bags, escape routes & 💨-coping NOW:
The Lolo NF of WC MT: fire danger is “high;”
Extreme🔥 risk in BC, NT, AB, SK, MB, ON & QC means 🇨🇦 won’t have resources to spare;
Large U.S. 🔥 might lack a dedicated incident meteorologist due to NWS ✂️;
There are too few USFS🔥staff.
#MTFire #MTNews
The Lolo NF of WC MT: fire danger is “high;”
Extreme🔥 risk in BC, NT, AB, SK, MB, ON & QC means 🇨🇦 won’t have resources to spare;
Large U.S. 🔥 might lack a dedicated incident meteorologist due to NWS ✂️;
There are too few USFS🔥staff.
#MTFire #MTNews
NIFC issued their monthly Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook today and it shows a little more red for August than the May 1 map. Our first look at September is just as grim for the western states. Also, keep in mind that the not-red portions mean average fire potential, not reduced. 1/
June 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
HELENA, MONTANA — With almost 500 personnel members on the #HorseGulchFire, crews are doing everything they can to bring the fire under containment. www.ktvh.com/news/mtn-spe... - KTVH
#MTFire
#MTFire
MTN speaks with crews fighting Horse Gulch Fire
With almost 500 personnel members on the Horse Gulch Fire, crews are doing everything they can to bring the fire under containment.
www.ktvh.com
July 16, 2024 at 12:24 AM
HELENA, MONTANA — With almost 500 personnel members on the #HorseGulchFire, crews are doing everything they can to bring the fire under containment. www.ktvh.com/news/mtn-spe... - KTVH
#MTFire
#MTFire
Sheehy’s aerial firefighting company relies on fed. contracts.
“A prior proposal to merge the Forest Service and Interior to improve firefighting was determined to have significant drawbacks by the Congressional Research Service in a 2008 report.” #MTFire #MTPol montanafreepress.org/2025/06/13/t...
“A prior proposal to merge the Forest Service and Interior to improve firefighting was determined to have significant drawbacks by the Congressional Research Service in a 2008 report.” #MTFire #MTPol montanafreepress.org/2025/06/13/t...
Trump moves to merge wildland firefighting into single force, despite ex-officials warning of chaos
The executive order comes after former federal officials warned that such a consolidation could be costly and increase the risk of catastrophic blazes.
montanafreepress.org
June 14, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Sheehy’s aerial firefighting company relies on fed. contracts.
“A prior proposal to merge the Forest Service and Interior to improve firefighting was determined to have significant drawbacks by the Congressional Research Service in a 2008 report.” #MTFire #MTPol montanafreepress.org/2025/06/13/t...
“A prior proposal to merge the Forest Service and Interior to improve firefighting was determined to have significant drawbacks by the Congressional Research Service in a 2008 report.” #MTFire #MTPol montanafreepress.org/2025/06/13/t...
The parallel between our cultural-&-Rx🔥 deficit and risks to homes, towns & infrastructure would be tightening even without nihilistic federal U.S. budget ✂️.
Look up the # of resident &🔥-fighter deaths in Peshtigo (1871) & The Great Burn (1910). #MTFire #Climate wildfiretoday.com/pre-colonial...
Look up the # of resident &🔥-fighter deaths in Peshtigo (1871) & The Great Burn (1910). #MTFire #Climate wildfiretoday.com/pre-colonial...
Pre-colonial frequency RxFire needed to save Western forests, study confirms
In 1993, District Manager John Koehler was in the midst of a shift in popular fire management practices. In his position with the Florida Forest Service (then the Division of Forestry) he’d n…
wildfiretoday.com
June 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The parallel between our cultural-&-Rx🔥 deficit and risks to homes, towns & infrastructure would be tightening even without nihilistic federal U.S. budget ✂️.
Look up the # of resident &🔥-fighter deaths in Peshtigo (1871) & The Great Burn (1910). #MTFire #Climate wildfiretoday.com/pre-colonial...
Look up the # of resident &🔥-fighter deaths in Peshtigo (1871) & The Great Burn (1910). #MTFire #Climate wildfiretoday.com/pre-colonial...
ICYMI: On July 22, roughly 7.5% of NorthWestern Energy’s #Montana customers received a message from the utility company about a potential power shutoff. montanafreepress.org/2024/08/29/n... - Montana Free Press
#MTFire #Wildfire
#MTFire #Wildfire
Power down of last resort
On July 22, roughly 7.5% of NorthWestern Energy’s Montana customers received a message from the utility company about a potential power shutoff. “Our wildfire specialists have identified your propert...
montanafreepress.org
September 5, 2024 at 8:50 PM
ICYMI: On July 22, roughly 7.5% of NorthWestern Energy’s #Montana customers received a message from the utility company about a potential power shutoff. montanafreepress.org/2024/08/29/n... - Montana Free Press
#MTFire #Wildfire
#MTFire #Wildfire
🔥 Red Flag Warning across central & eastern Montana through 3am MDT — fire weather conditions are critical across Glacier, Toole, Lewis and Clark NF, and surrounding counties. Track the odds free in beta at vortexwxpredictions.com #mtfire #redflag https://vortexwxpredictions.com
🔥 Red Flag Warning — Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty; Hill and Blaine Counties;
Free demo open now — paper trades only during beta
vortexwxpredictions.com
August 3, 2026 at 8:33 AM
🔥 Red Flag Warning across central & eastern Montana through 3am MDT — fire weather conditions are critical across Glacier, Toole, Lewis and Clark NF, and surrounding counties. Track the odds free in beta at vortexwxpredictions.com #mtfire #redflag https://vortexwxpredictions.com
MONTANA: Horse Gulch wildfire near #Helena grows to 10,849 acres; dry fuels, weather factors in spread: helenair.com/news/local/w... - Helena Independent Record
#HorseGulchFire #MTFire
#HorseGulchFire #MTFire
Horse Gulch wildfire near Helena grows to 10,849 acres; dry fuels, weather factors in spread
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch Friday morning and said it will remain in effect from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.
helenair.com
July 12, 2024 at 10:56 PM
MONTANA: Horse Gulch wildfire near #Helena grows to 10,849 acres; dry fuels, weather factors in spread: helenair.com/news/local/w... - Helena Independent Record
#HorseGulchFire #MTFire
#HorseGulchFire #MTFire
MONTANA: The #HorseGulchfire northeast of #Helena has now hit 10,849 acres, according to an overnight flight that mapped the blaze now entering its fourth day, officials said. There is 0% containment. helenair.com/resources/wi... - Helena Independent Record
#MTFire
#MTFire
Horse Gulch wildfire near Helena grows to 10,849 acres; dry fuels, weather factors in spread
The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch Friday morning and said it will remain in effect from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.
helenair.com
July 12, 2024 at 4:42 PM
MONTANA: The #HorseGulchfire northeast of #Helena has now hit 10,849 acres, according to an overnight flight that mapped the blaze now entering its fourth day, officials said. There is 0% containment. helenair.com/resources/wi... - Helena Independent Record
#MTFire
#MTFire
Late-March big-picture🔥review from Rob Cheney, from the Greater Yellowstone: #MTFire montanafreepress.org/2026/03/24/t...
Wildfire forecast, part 1: The heat is on
Calls to consolidate Forest Service, Interior firefighters stalled in 2025, but may revive as 2026 weather forecasts heat up.
montanafreepress.org
March 27, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Late-March big-picture🔥review from Rob Cheney, from the Greater Yellowstone: #MTFire montanafreepress.org/2026/03/24/t...
Not to mention WUI smoke. “It was once thought that smoke from burning trees was basically benign…in 1988, thousands of firefighters developed breathing problems as they fought back a monthslong fire in Yellowstone NP…the crews were breathing in a mix of carcinogens and other ☢️ chemicals.” #MTFire
Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death among firefighters.
Wildfire Fighters, Unmasked in Toxic Smoke, Are Getting Sick and Dying
www.nytimes.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Not to mention WUI smoke. “It was once thought that smoke from burning trees was basically benign…in 1988, thousands of firefighters developed breathing problems as they fought back a monthslong fire in Yellowstone NP…the crews were breathing in a mix of carcinogens and other ☢️ chemicals.” #MTFire
“Even if you assume the best possible motive, that this is truly in the public interest…there's then the question of, OK, are we actually going to have access to this data in the long run, or is this going to be the equivalent of a 30-day free trial?” #MTFire #AI apple.news/AGxE8u3qGRPq...
Google Wants to Get Better at Spotting Wildfires From Space — WIRED
A partnership with the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance and satellite manufacturer Muon Space is giving Google a better shot at tracking wildfires—and using AI to process all the data being collected.
apple.news
June 24, 2025 at 11:34 PM
“Even if you assume the best possible motive, that this is truly in the public interest…there's then the question of, OK, are we actually going to have access to this data in the long run, or is this going to be the equivalent of a 30-day free trial?” #MTFire #AI apple.news/AGxE8u3qGRPq...