Montana News Roundup: State Hit with Lightning Fires

More potential fire weather this week across the southern reaches of the state will keep the pressure on firefighters, who are still trying to catch up with a series of lightning-caused blazes over the past few days.

Fires in the Madison continue to be the fastest-moving and biggest smoke producers. The McAllister Fire near Norris burned over 3500 acres of open country, but is 30% contained. It did force some evacuation warnings and highway closures. The Horn Fire south of Ennis is 50% contained. Crews continue to work on the backcountry Cloudrest and Bivens Creek fires in the Tobacco Roots to limit their spread.

The Windy Rock Fire northeast of Drummond has burned nearly 850 acres. The latest fire in the state, the Mission Ridge Fire in Big Horn County, remains over 6100 acres with no containment. There's 55% containment now on the Summer Springs fire in Treasure County. And new fires yesterday include the 150-acre Knowles Fire, one of four new fires along the Lower Flathead River in Sanders County.

Today's forecast is for hot weather, well into the 90s for most locations, with the possibility of more strong thunderstorms as we saw in some areas overnight.

    ⛈️  Forecasters say the combination of heat, gusty winds around thunderstorms, and relatively low humidity could create more fire weather.

Butte is still bone dry

It's still an H2O waiting game in Butte today, as officials are still waiting for the go-ahead from the Montana DEQ to lift the "do not consume" order for many water customers that has been in effect since the middle of last week.

Butte-Silver Bow officials have been continually asking for the public's patience, as the shutdown continues for residents south of Farrell, west of Continental, north of Ottawa, and east of Farragut and Howard. Water distribution was halted over the weekend, but shower facilities were opened at Montana Tech. The problem was caused when an overpressurized hydrant sent water and possible contaminants back into the system.

Distribution of water is set to resume at the Civic Center from 3 to 7 pm.

     ☎️ The city's hotline is also open for questions at 406-497-6440.

Mysterious fatal accidents in Montana

Montana Highway Patrol is now reporting it was a 40-year-old Malta man who died last week when his truck ran off the highway near Sun Prairie. Troopers believe speed and alcohol contributed to the crash, where the pickup went off the side of the road and overturned.

And a 52-year-old Colstrip man was killed when his Harley went off the highway near Forsyth on Friday night. Troopers aren't sure why the bike left the ride, but they saw the rider was critically injured when it overturned, dying later at the hospital.

Train accident victim was an MSU student

The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office has released the identity of the young woman who was hit by a train near Three Forks last week as 20-year-old Anna Steigerwald, an MSU student from Colorado. She was struck close to the Milwaukee Fishing Access site.