Montana Officials Warn of Active Fire Season Ahead

HELENA, MT — Montana officials are preparing for what they expect to be a very active wildfire season, with dry and hot conditions anticipated to persist through August and significant fire potential forecasted across the state.

Governor Greg Gianforte joined local, state, tribal and federal fire management officers Monday for the annual Fire Season Briefing at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Aviation Hangar in Helena.

“We are here today to pledge our shared commitment to protect Montanans, our communities, and our lands from catastrophic wildfire,” Gianforte said. “Throughout the summer, we can expect dry and hot conditions to persist. Working together with our partners, we stand ready to respond with an aggressive initial attack to protect our communities.”

Fire management professionals expressed particular concern about western Montana in July, with significant wildfire potential expected to expand to central and eastern Montana in August and September. Drier and warmer conditions are expected to begin in June.

The briefing highlighted Montana’s recent success in fire suppression and prevention efforts, bolstered by legislative investments detailed in previous reporting. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has kept 95% of fires in its direct protection to 10 acres or fewer during Gianforte’s tenure, aided by new technology deployments including 16 camera systems and Remote Automated Weather Stations that enable earlier fire detection.

“The department would like to thank the Montana legislature for answering the call from Montanans to make fire preparedness a priority in the 2025 session,” DNRC Director Amanda Kaster said. “Thanks to these investments, DNRC is more prepared than ever – using advanced technology to detect fires earlier, securing additional equipment to fight fires faster, and reduce fuel loads through cross-boundary, landscape scale forest management.”

The state has placed over 130,000 forested acres under management since 2021 through timber harvests, prescribed burns, and fuel reduction projects designed to address Montana’s forest health crisis.

Officials emphasized the importance of preventing human-caused wildfires, which remain a significant concern amid the current forest health crisis. The state has outlined several prevention measures for residents, including staying current on weather conditions and fire restrictions, properly maintaining campfires, securing trailer chains, and avoiding driving on dry grass.

Other recommendations include properly maintaining farm and lawn equipment and using caution when burning debris, particularly avoiding pile burning during hot, windy conditions or when fire restrictions are in place.

Each agency represented at the briefing expressed commitment to open communication and resource sharing throughout the upcoming season. The collaborative approach includes partnerships between state, federal, tribal and local officials to ensure coordinated response efforts.

For current fire information and additional prevention tips, residents can visit mtfireinfo.org. The complete weather outlook presentation and briefing video are available on the governor’s website.