Missoula, MT— As wildfires already burn in western Montana, state and federal officials are preparing for what could be a more active and challenging fire season across the region.
Speaking at Governor Greg Gianforte’s annual fire season briefing Monday in Helena, Dan Borsum, a federal Predictive Services meteorologist for the Northern Rockies Geographic Area, warned that the wildfire threat is expected to intensify this summer.
“The most significant fire potential could begin in western Montana in July, then spread to central and eastern Montana in August and September,” Borsum said.
The briefing was held at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) Fire Aviation Support Facility, where several helicopters have already been deployed to combat the Banana Lake Fire near Plains.
Governor Gianforte has consistently emphasized the need for rapid response to wildfires and proactive forest management to reduce the risk and severity of fires. Representatives from key agencies including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) echoed this commitment at the meeting.
“We’re all in this together,” said Ben South, deputy regional forester for the USFS Northern Region. “The resources and personnel from our partner agencies are a critical part of our response strategy.”
To enhance firefighting capabilities, DNRC has invested in modernizing its helicopter fleet. According to Tal Williams, DNRC’s chief pilot, the upgrades include a modernized tail section that improves operational efficiency and safety.
“There are more built-in safety margins for excess power and increased capacity, which overall improves the safety of flying the aircraft,” Williams explained.
As Montana braces for the months ahead, officials stress that cooperation among agencies and communities will be key to effectively managing wildfire risks and protecting lives and property.
