Butte air purifier loan program opens April 27 for fire season

BUTTE, Mont. — According to the Butte-Silver Bow City-County Health Department, the county’s Air Purifier Loan Out Program ill return for a fourth year on Monday, April 27, 2026.

The program is part of Butte-Silver Bow County’s public health response plan for wildfire smoke events. The health department was created to help the community prepare for and protect against the effects of wildfire smoke.

The program is intended for county residents in groups the health department identified for priority participation. Those groups include people age 65 or older, people with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions, people who are pregnant, and caregivers of young children and people who do not have the means to buy a purifier.

Eligible residents can apply to use a purifier in their home during fire season from May through October. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available purifiers are distributed.

Interested applicants can call 406-497-5043 to schedule an appointment.