Early Montana Brush Fires Spotlight Need for Summer Fire Safety

It's only April, and crews around Montana have already been busy extinguishing wildfires. Due to a lack of winter moisture, many areas in the state are full of dry fuels, and experts are predicting that the fire season in Montana this summer could be historic.

Luckily, there's still a chance that Montana could make up for the lack of moisture during the spring, but the summer wildfire outlook isn't looking good as of this writing. On Friday, a section of Frontage Road between Belgrade and Manhattan was closed as crews battled brush fires that were ignited by a passing train. For some reason, brush fires have become fairly common along that stretch. So far in 2024, crews have fought four separate fires in the area. It's definitely not a good sign of things to come.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, many areas across Montana received below-average precipitation over the winter. The lack of moisture could result in an elevated wildfire risk this summer in Montana.

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HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM WILDFIRES IN MONTANA

If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires in Montana, there are certain things that you can do to prepare yourself, your home, and your community for wildfire. Montana Fire Info has a few important tips for residents.

1. Trim bushes and vegetation around your home
2. Create a 3 to 5 foot non-combustible perimeter around your home using concrete or rock mulch.
3. Move combustible materials including garbage, lumber, and patie accessories away from your home.
4. Propane tanks should be located at least 30 feet away from any structure.

For a full list of steps you can take to protect yourself from wildfires in Montana, click here.