Wildfires ravage Montana

There have been a number of days this summer and fall where the sun has been a dark crimson hue despite being relatively high above the horizon. The smell of smoke permeating the air on such days makes the solution to this puzzle easy to cobble together. These were the signs of raging wildfires. While the smoke that lingered in and above Bozeman was a product of the highly publicized fires in Oregon and Northern California, the state of Montana was not immune to the intense fire season of 2021 either.

The 940,000 acres of land that burned throughout the state this year represent the third largest figure in the past ten years, behind 2017 and 2012, according to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. This was the product of 2,000 fires that burned within the state’s borders this year alone. As the fires burned, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) issued a wildfire emergency declaration in July, rallying a total of 594 National Guard personnel to aid in suppression efforts. 

The fire season was not only destructive but also extended over a longer period of time. Fire season is typically seen as running from late spring through early fall. However, that was the case in 2021. Even well into October, there are 13 wildfires not fully contained in Montana as of publication according to the U.S. Forest Service’s Incident Information System .

 It should be noted that a wildfire is not inherently bad. It brings a certain rejuvenation to forestland, and is an important part of the ecological machine that is nature. Still, keeping up to date on fires in your area is important as it could lead to the salvation of property and lives.