Was This Montana’s “Small” Fire Season?

The final totals still need to be added up, but even the preliminary numbers are showing Montana's wildfire season was one of the least damaging in the past decade, with a smaller percentage of area being burned when compared with the last several summers.

Preliminary numbers through this week show Montana had 71,000 acres burned, with most of the larger fires coming in the past month.

By comparison, about 157,000 acres burned last year. And in the major fire year of 2017, more than 1.3 million acres were scorched.

It should be noted that the number of fires was still close to "normal", with Montana DNRC reporting over 2100 fires this week, which will be comparable to 2024. Weather was also a factor, with frequent periods of cooler, wetter weather. 

      🔥 The difference in acreage burned reflects how quickly responders were knocking down fires this summer, keeping them relatively small.

Saying a fond farewell to Robert Redford

Montana film fans are marking the passing of legendary actor and director Robert Redford, who died at his mountain home in Utah overnight.

Redford is especially recognized here because of his production of two of the most iconic movies ever made in Montana, the film adaptation of the Norman Maclean novel "A River Runs Through It" and, a few years later, as both actor and director of "The Horse Whisperer". Both films were shot and produced in the Livingston area and the Boulder, giving people a new appreciation of our natural beauty.

Redford was also admired for his conservation efforts in the West over the years. He was 89.

Gun incidents in Montana's largest cities

Both Billings and Missoula Police are trying to sort through more incidents of gunfire. In Missoula, three people were being questioned after shots were fired when a fight broke out off South 3rd Street. No one was injured.

And Billings Police are sorting through a shooting on The Rims that left one person injured, also stemming from a dispute.

Triple murder being investigated

Getting more details now on the arrest of a suspect wanted for three murders in Poplar, on the Fort Peck Reservation.

Fort Peck Tribal Police say Michael J. Littlebull has been arrested for a "triple murder" involving three adults, but the release didn't give further details of the homicides.

However, the Northern Plains Independent is reporting they've received confirmation from the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office that the 73-year-old suspect told authorities he had killed his wife, his stepson, and the stepson's girlfriend.

     The FBI, and the Sheriff's offices in Yellowstone County and Roosevelt County are also working on the case.

Pets still recovering from meth smoke

Managers of the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter say they're still helping dogs and cats recover from last week's incident when the building was overrun with methamphetamine smoke.

The smoke came out of the shelter's incinerator, which malfunctioned, sending the smoke from a drug disposal operation through the building, forcing staff to evacuate, along with the animals.

Monday, shelter staff said some of the animals are "stressed" and being treated for upset stomachs and upper respiratory infections. Most of the evacuated animals are being given foster care.

     🐶 The shelter is still asking for donations of supplies to help with recovery. Toy find more info on their Facebook page. 

Montana teachers struggling

A new report by WalletHub suggests Montana is a terrible place to be a teacher. When adjusted for inflation, the report states that teachers here are making over $3,700 less than they did 16 years ago. Only Hawaii is worse. And Montana ranks 51st for the starting wage for teachers, when adjusted for cost of living.

Governor Gianforte and the Montana Legislature have been focused on boosting starting pay for teachers with recent legislation.

READ MORE: Where Montana Schools Excel

     However, the bright spot is that Montana teachers rank 19th for "income growth potential."