fire season

Wind, rain, below-normal temperatures, yes, even snow, have made for an unseasonably cool start to June.

Last summer’s wildfires made for big headlines in the media, but the resulting destruction and smoke combined to keep out-of-state visitors away, and with them, millions of dollars in lost income.

A legislative committee meeting in Helena yesterday heard testimony that further cuts in Medicaid reimbursements to healthcare providers could lead to more patient deaths.

Summer could be coming to a screeching halt very soon, if the forecasts from the National Weather Service for this week are accurate

Fire season is rapidly approaching. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is encouraging Missoula residents to use a three step plan to get ready. Public Relations Specialist Jordan Koppen says hes noticed many homes are not prepared.

Senior Meteorologist Bob Nester with the National Weather Service Office in Missoula, has put together a look back at moisture levels for May, as well as a peek ahead into the probable forecast for summer and Montana's Wildfire Season.

Despite the warm, relatively dry winter and the early spring that western Montana has experienced, the National Weather Service says there is plenty of snow pack in area mountains.

This summer began with calls for caution by some Montana state agencies warning that the 2015 fire season could be the worst on record.

A large swath of Northwest Montana will be moving into Stage II Fire Restrictions at 12:01 am tomorrow, August 20 including Lincoln county, Sanders county, Flathead County, Lake county and Mineral county.

Missoula is currently abiding by Stage 1 fire restrictions, however, with the dry weather conditions Emergency Management Director Adrian Beck says Missoula may have to move into Stage 2 fire restrictions soon.