Montana

Destructive wildfire in southeastern Montana forces evacuations and claims land

Published

1 year ago

August 25, 2024

Destructive wildfire in southeastern Montana forces evacuations and claims land

BIRNEY — The Remington fire has taken over southeastern Montana, and as of Sunday afternoon, has burned over 196,000 acres and is at 0% containment, according to MT Fire Info.

The fire first began in Wyoming on Thursday but quickly crossed the Montana-Wyoming border spreading rapidly, affecting Rosebud, Powder River, and Big Horn counties.

Pre-evacuation orders are in place for residences on Tongue River Road between Ashland and Birney, the town of Birney, East-Fork Hanging Woman Road to the Rosebud county line and Odell Creek Road to Ashland. Tribal resources were staged at the Birney Community Hall throughout the night to help fight the fire. By Saturday morning, due to backburning efforts, Birney residents were allowed to safely return home, according to the Northern Cheyenne Incident Command.

Steve Bourne

Image of the Remington fire taken from the Sand Turn pullout on the Bighorn Mountains. The Town of Ranchester, WY is seen at the bottom.

“If it had kept going and if the [fire fighters] hadn’t been back, Birney itself as a town would not be there,” said Birney resident Laurel Fjell. “It’s a rude awakening.”

The Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that the fire was being successfully managed by multiple crews throughout Saturday, but that people should still be on the lookout in the area for hazardous situations.

The Remington fire has affected rural communities and ranchers in the area. Many have seen a loss of land, fencing, structures, and livestock.

“It’s kind of a regular thing. Every year we have at least one to two big giant fires that kind of spooks everybody. For the years that I’ve lived here, this is probably the worst one that I’ve seen,” said Birney rancher Jacob Knoblock.

Those who live in the area are usually prepared to jump into action when fires occur. Knoblock said that he and his family have water tanks and sprayers on their trucks to help fight fires.

“We set up a plan to help start back burning over there to make sure it doesn’t jump the road and go into our permits,” said Knoblock.

Knoblock and his neighbors lost a significant amount of cattle initially but are still in the process of relocating them. He also said that while they are lucky the fire missed their house, they still lost almost 1,000 acres of land.

“Grazing land. That’s kind of all that’s really burned up. Our hay fields are okay, so that’s always good, but just fencing. I have to go through and fix fences again,” said Knoblock.

Others in the town of Birney also attempted to fight the fire but were worried about the uncertainty and severity of the burn.

“I’ve been fighting fires for over 60 years here, and this is way the worst that I’ve ever seen,” said resident Butch Fjell.

For the Fjell family, the fire was dangerously close to their surrounding neighbors’ houses in Birney. They came to help the backburning efforts near Hanging Woman Creek, but that situation turned into a close call when a tree exploded near them.

“I was in the crossfire. The heat was so enormous that it blistered my knees and my right hand has blisters on it and my ear,” said Laurel Fjell. “To me, it was a close-to-death experience. I’d never ever experienced anything like that before.”

Fjell suffered major burns but was able to treat them. Her grandson, Grayson Fjell, witnessed the fire and jumped into action to make sure she was alright.

“I was in the fire truck on that tree blew up and she was outside and so I didn’t know really what to do,” said Grayson. “I burnt a little bit on my finger and my elbow because I tried to go out the door, but all that heat just on that metal was scorching hot. It was pretty scary for having her outside the pick-up.”

The view of the Remington fire near Odell Creek.

Lots in the community have come together to offer assistance and help. In Lame Deer, the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation has been established as a shelter for those needing a safe place to go.

“Last night, we did have eight people here and we currently have a capacity of 20 but can expand quite quickly,” said Emma Harris, the Boys and Girls accountant.

The shelters were open to those evacuating from Ashland, as fire crews were worried the fire was heading in that direction. For now, the community is safe, but those pre-evacuation orders are still in effect.

“People are scheduled to be here all through the night in case that situation becomes a little bit more unsafe and people need to be evacuated,” said Harris.

The fire has the potential to spread, but the assistance from many firefighters all over the area hopes to stop it.

“It has given me an enormous respect for all these firefighters that are risking their life every day and our local firefighters,” said Laurel.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Lucky For Life, Big Sky Bonus results for Jan. 29, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Jan. 29, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 29 drawing

14-24-25-39-40, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 29 drawing

05-06-19-25, Bonus: 10

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana

Shaking felt as magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported near Great Falls, Montana

Published

14 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Shaking felt as magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported near Great Falls, Montana

A video shared from Maracaibo, Venezuela, shows a gamer getting startled as a powerful earthquake hits the region on Sept. 24, 2025.

GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – A magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook western Montana on Thursday afternoon, according to information from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake occurred at 12:41 p.m. local time roughly 7.45 miles north-northeast of Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Montana eerthquake stats
(FOX Weather)

It was reported to be 6.21 miles below the surface, according to the USGS.

Moderate shaking was felt right near the earthquake in Great Falls, about 11 miles away.

Montana earthquake shaking reports
(FOX Weather)

Light shaking was reported as far north as Shelby, Montana, roughly 85 miles from Great Falls.

Montana’s capitol city of Helena also reported weak shaking from the quake.

It’s unclear if any damage occurred as a result of the earthquake.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Montana

Deadly Crans-Montana fire sends chills through Swiss tourism with safety in spotlight

Published

1 day ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Deadly Crans-Montana fire sends chills through Swiss tourism with safety in spotlight

VERBIER, Switzerland, Jan 29 (Reuters) – A New Year fire that killed 40 people at a Swiss ski resort bar has shaken a lucrative tourism industry that long had an impeccable reputation and has piled pressure on the country to tighten safety standards.

News that “Le Constellation” bar, in the town of Crans-Montana in Canton Valais, had gone six years without a safety check quickly prompted officials to ban some practices, including the use of sparkling candles blamed for the tragedy.

The stain on Switzerland’s otherwise exemplary safety record was quickly felt as local hoteliers reported cancelled bookings in a canton where the cost of real estate in resorts such as nearby Verbier can fetch prices on a par with Hong Kong.

“There were cancellations, there were reservation postponements to later dates in hotels,” said Bruno Huggler, director of the Crans-Montana tourism office, after the blaze that killed mostly teenagers and injured more than 100 people.

Le Constellation owners Jacques Moretti and his wife are under investigation for negligent homicide and other crimes.

The disaster has ignited a fractious political debate over safety, including calls for harmonised national standards in a country that prizes local autonomy.

It has also sparked alarm in Verbier’s hospitality sector.

BUSINESS FEARS

“We realize this could very well happen right here,” said Lionel Dubois, head of Verbier’s Association of Hoteliers, Cafe Owners and Restaurateurs. “That, I think, is a bit frightening.”

Tourism in Switzerland was worth about $22.17 billion, or 3% of national output in 2021, official data showed.

While bookings at Crans-Montana’s roughly 1,300 hotel rooms have suffered, the overall picture is stable, as chalet and apartment rentals cover most stays, tourism boss Huggler said.

Young people have been shaken, though, and while some restaurants are returning to life, bars remain quieter, said Cedric Berger, head of the Association of Apartment and Chalet Owners of the Crans-Montana Upper Plateau.

Some local accommodation providers have seen cancellations in short-term vacation rentals.

“January is a month to forget, a lost month for everyone,” said Berger.

Survivors of the fire, which also killed French and Italian citizens, are still hospitalised around Europe.

Crans-Montana apartment owners from Italy and France are angry, said Berger, who is also a lawyer.

“People go to Valais not because it’s the ‘best party’, but because it’s Switzerland, and you think it’s safe. If that quality disappears, then Switzerland’s ‘fortress’ is a bit shaken,” he added.

Anxiety about the fallout is palpable in Verbier, where Reuters contacted 37 hospitality venues.

Most declined to speak or did not reply, though the 12 who did said checks were conducted properly. But all agreed that rules must be reinforced to guarantee regular inspections, limit numbers at venues and provide fire-safety training to staff.

In four of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, including Valais, building insurance is not mandatory – potentially increasing risks for owners hit by fire, as well as weakening controls.

The Swiss Insurance Association said over 90% of buildings in Switzerland are insured according to market estimates, adding it does not keep precise figures on how many are not. Reuters could not establish if Le Constellation had building insurance.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

The fire delivered the biggest hit to Switzerland’s reputation since the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse bank, said Alexandre Edelmann, head of Presence Switzerland, the foreign ministry unit that promotes the country’s image abroad.

As media reports about Switzerland jumped to 25 times more than average in early January, a crisis room was established to support people abroad following the fire, said Edelmann.

Lawmaker Jacqueline de Quattro, head of the lower house of parliament security committee, said the fire had exposed potential shortcomings in Switzerland’s federal system, which allows cantons to set their own rules.

“We believed we had strict rules and that Switzerland was well‑prepared,” said de Quattro. “But then we were brutally confronted with reality.”

Proposing a national review to harmonise standards backed by an events industry group, she voiced concerns over event professionals’ reports of sloppy work stemming from inadequate training, cost pressures and irregular inspections.

But the head of Verbier’s Val de Bagnes municipality, Fabien Sauthier, said inspections need resources and that, while regular checks occur, it was tough to inspect some 400 public buildings annually with just four full-time safety officials.

And any push towards greater federal oversight could face resistance.

“I’m a Swiss person, so I think the canton should decide what it wants to do,” said Willy Schranz, head of the municipal council in Adelboden in Canton Bern. “If you take responsibility, then it’s a very good system.”

($1 = 0.7667 Swiss francs)

Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin
Editing by Dave Graham and Gareth Jones

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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