Montana News Roundup: Fed Fire Cuts Don’t Worry Gianforte

Fire season is moving closer every day, and with a forecast for warmer, drier conditions, with budget cuts creating uncertainties for staffing in the federal fire crews.

But Governor Greg Gianforte says he's "very proud" of the state's fire crews, and not worried if the Forest Service is dealing with cuts.

When I asked him about that a few weeks ago, he expressed frustration stemming from last year, when the state raised questions about the federal response to a major fire near Helena.

"We had a commitment from them, that they would pursue full suppression on all fires, provided we didn't put wildfires at risk." -Gov Gianforte

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"Then, this past fire season, we caught them sitting on their hands," Gianforte complains. "They were literally watching fires burn, with aviation assets available to them. With ground crews available to them."

     🔥 The governor believes new leadership at the Forest Service will help solve those issues, and in any event, he says the DNRC is ready.

READ MORE: Safeguarding Your Home From Montana Fires

Progress on Montana's First Big Fire of '25

Firefighters are continuing to make headway on the Sawlog Fire, burning at the north end of the Big Hole Valley.

     -Updated mapping has the blaze at just over 1400 acres.

Fire crews have been working on "mop-up" operations as they build and improve containment lines around the blaze, which erupted last week. They have 20% containment, and are continuing to try and keep the fire from getting closer to structures along the Highway 43 corridor north of Wisdom.

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Montana FWP has placed an emergency closure along the Big Hole River in the vicinity of the Sawlog Fire. The river is closed for fishing and other activities from the Mud Creek Bridge downstream to the Sportsman's Park Fishing Access. The Fish Trap Fishing Access is also closed.

Hundreds of Montana Fires Already

While the Sawlog Fire is the first major blaze in the state this year, it's far from the first. In fact, Montana DNRC says there have already been 268 wildfires so far in 2025, with 17 new fires just this week and 12 active fires right now. Most of those are in Western Montana, and have burned less than 10 acres each. But it illustrates how quickly conditions are drying out.

Speed Kills Teens in Billings

Billings Police investigators are now saying speed was the primary factor in a double fatality crash in the early hours of Wednesday morning at East Airport Road and Rimrock Drive.

Officers have determined that the driver of the car lost control, causing it to roll off the road. Three of the four people inside were ejected, with two girls, ages 16 and 18, killed.

     -No charges have been filed, and the investigation continues.

One Killed in Highway 89 Crash

We're still waiting for details on that deadly crash that happened east of Great Falls on Highway 89 yesterday morning. The accident, which involved a fire, completely blocked the highway for a time. The victim hasn't been identified.

No More Twin Cities Connection from the Electric City

Great Falls is losing an important air connection, although there are still some options for travelers, as Jason Laird explains, Delta is dropping a flight.

Montana Friday Fun Fact

     ✈️ Montana Airports are a LOT busier since the pandemic. The Montana Department of Transportation reported over 3.1 million passengers had flown through the state's major airports by December.