Montana

Cool trend tamps down fire momentum

Published

9 months ago

August 7, 2023

MISSOULIAN STAFF

Temperatures dropping 10 to 20 degrees lower than normal and a surge of moisture have firefighters across western Montana anticipating a weekend breather.

That means increasing humidity, periods of rain with heavy showers at times, and widespread convection from Friday evening through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The precipitation could cover everything from northwest Montana to south of Interstate 90.

The shifting weather will have equally confusing effects on smoke conditions across western Montana. The Missoula Valley should see air quality fluctuate between Good and Moderate as winds shift. Potential rain over the weekend could clear the Colt fire (7,179 acres) smoke out of the Seeley-Swan valleys. The Tin Soldier Complex of fires in the Swan Mountains east of Swan Lake (2,368 acres) appears to be sending smoke eastward.

“Storms bring down the mixing heights, so if smoke is trapped below the clouds it could just be rain and smoke trapped in the valleys,” Missoula County Air Quality Specialist Kerri Mueller wrote in a Friday email. “On the other hand, if the storm moves in clean air, that’s a perfect scenario — reducing fire activity and delivering fresh air! I’m hoping and predicting it’s the latter.”

Friday’s cloudy conditions made it difficult to track wildfire smoke travel near Missoula. Mueller said in Lake County, the Niarada fire (14,816 acres) appears to be most active on its east and southeast flanks, while the Middle Ridge fire has slowed down considerably. The Big Knife fire (4,412 acres) is spreading toward the South Fork Jocko River and Gold Creek, but may be hindered by weekend rains.

South of Glacier National Park, the Ridge fire (1,576 acres) has prompted mandatory evacuation orders for some residents near Hungry Horse Reservoir. Current actions are to keep the fire away from Martin City and the private land west of FS Road 38. The fire progressed southeast and crossed FS Road 38. The evacuation notice is in effect for all public traffic from the junction of FS Road 38 (East Side Road) and FS Road 497 (Desert Mountain Road). FS Road 38 (East Side Road) is closed to all public travel from the junction FS Road 497 (Desert Mountain Road) and FS Road 38. A Type 3 Incident Management Team (Northern Rockies Team 9) assumed command of the fire at 6:00 am on August 3. The fire is located 6 miles southeast of Hungry Horse.

The Rogers Pass fire, burning just southeast of Lincoln, is estimated to be 46 acres. The fire was first reported late in the afternoon on Aug. 1. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Wolf Creek Volunteer Fire Department have sent personnel backed up by aircraft to confront it.

The fire has forced closure of part of the Continental Divide Trail between Flesher Pass and Rogers Pass. Hikers will need to seek alternate routes to cross the area.

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Montana

Public charter schools in Montana set to open, related legislative tweaks possible • Daily Montanan

Published

5 mins ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Public charter schools in Montana set to open, related legislative tweaks possible • Daily Montanan

The Montana Legislature may consider “minor” changes to statutes related to public charter schools during its 2025 session following a recent court order, said a legislator and chairperson of an education committee.

But 18 schools are slated to open this year, according to the Office of Public Instruction.

Rep. Dave Bedey, R-Hamilton, said Thursday he believes the bill that opened the door for more charters is clear as written.

“At the end of the day, I’m just gratified that schools across the state are going to be able to put these innovative programs into place without delay,” Bedey said.

In the 2023 session, the legislature approved House Bill 549, which eased the way for more charter schools through the public school system. However, a lawsuit filed this spring alleged the Office of Public Instruction was throwing up roadblocks.

Last month, a Lewis and Clark District Court judge disagreed with the Office of Public Instruction’s interpretation that certain prerequisites needed to be met to get the charter schools off the ground, such as a parental petition and approval from county commissioners.

The legal dispute took place as students made plans to attend the new schools, but educators alleged the argument over how to open them meant likely delays.

Last week, the court signed off on an agreement between the plaintiffs, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, and defendants, Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction, that resolves some of the fight.

In the stipulation, the Montana Quality Education Coalition agreed Arntzen and the OPI had implemented processes that allow the schools to start operating by July 1, 2024, and that they were in compliance with the court’s order for a preliminary injunction last month.

Court order

“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT this Court’s Preliminary Injunction Order, dated April 17, 2024, remains in effect pending an order terminating this Court’s preliminary injunction or until the Montana Legislature has the opportunity during the 2025 session to amend relevant statutory authority regarding the responsibilities of the Board of Public Education, the Office of Public Instruction, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction relative to the authorization of and opening of public charter schools in Montana. The remaining claims for declaratory and permanent injunctive relief are dismissed with prejudice and with each party bearing responsibility for their own attorney’s fees and costs.” — Order from Lewis and Clark District Court

The Montana Quality Education Coalition describes itself as made up of more than 100 school districts and five education organizations and one of the largest education advocacy organizations in Montana.

The agreement the judge approved acknowledges the preliminary injunction from April 17 remains in effect unless the court terminates it or the legislature amends relevant statutes. It also dismisses outstanding claims.

In an email this week, the Office of Public Instruction notes that as of May 13, it had opened 15 of 18 schools enrolling students this year.

“The OPI is working with one school to correct some of the information that was submitted and is waiting on applications from two schools,” the agency said in an email. “One of the approved public charter schools will not open until the fall of 2025.”

Rep. Bedey, chairperson of the interim budget committee on education, said Thursday he doesn’t believe amendments are needed, although small changes are possible.

Rather, he said a plain reading of HB 549 clearly indicates the approval process for schools, the authority of the Board of Public Education, and the duty of the Office of Public Instruction.

All the same, Bedey said the legislature has an opportunity to make “some minor changes” to make the intentions of the bill “crystal clear and remove any ambiguity” given some people had a “contrary reading” of it.

At a committee meeting in March, legislators voted 6-2 to send a letter to Arntzen telling her she was failing students and not meeting her Constitutional duties related to HB 549 and other educational programs legislators had supported.

The Montana Quality Education Coalition filed the lawsuit later the same month.

“It’s regrettable that this issue had to go to the courts for resolution because the meaning of the law was clear,” Bedey said. “It’s regrettable that we were unable to convince the superintendent of that when her lawyer appeared before us in a committee meeting in March.”

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Montana

A small plane crashes in Montana, killing the pilot and a passenger

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

A small plane crashes in Montana, killing the pilot and a passenger

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A single-engine airplane crashed in southeastern Montana, killing the pilot and the passenger, the Federal Aviation Administration reported.

The Piper PA-18 crashed near Tillitt Field Airport east of the town of Forsyth at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the FAA said. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

Rosebud County Sheriff Allen Fulton said they have identified the victims but weren’t releasing their names yet. The crash did not start a fire, he said.

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Montana

Alan Olson: Biden EV mandates not practical for Montana

Published

14 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

ALAN OLSON

Life in Montana takes energy.

Companies and individuals across the state have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure Montanans have the power to go about their lives in the way they want. It is part of what makes Montana the Last Best Place.

However, the Biden-Harris administration’s new EPA mandate threatens that freedom. Under the EPA’s final rule, two-thirds of vehicles sold by U.S. automakers need to be battery-powered or plug-in hybrid by 2032. Fundamentally — Montanans, and the rest of the United States, will eventually be forced to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) for their family car — no matter how expensive it is.

If Montana is to preserve a huge part of its residents’ way of life and prevent the stretching of some communities’ shallow pockets, we need all our policymakers in DC to step up to the plate and oppose this electric vehicle mandate.

As Executive Director of the Montana Petroleum Association, I have seen firsthand how hard our member companies work to provide reliable energy sources to the people of Montana. If the EPA’s mandate takes root, our member companies’ workers will suffer, as oil and gas jobs become fewer and further between.

It will also drastically increase consumer costs as a result of the mandated shifts to expensive and inefficient EV’s, which at this point simply do not support the hauling and long-distance needs of members of the oil and gas industry, or everyday Montana consumers.

Our member companies are actively addressing sustainability and climate issues, recognizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and operating with the aim of providing Montanans with critical resources while respecting the importance of our environment — but the bottom line is that Montanans — and Americans — still rely heavily on gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, and shouldn’t be expected to scrimp in other essential areas, like groceries, just to eventually be able to afford an EV.

Kelley Blue Book reports that according to data from Cox Automotive, “the average transaction price for electric cars was $53,469 in July 2023, vs. gas-powered vehicles at $48,334.” The exponentially higher cost of an EV in addition to Montana’s rising cost of living is not insignificant. Car insurance for EVs is also costlier than gas powered vehicles, “on average, insurance for an electric car is $44 per month more expensive.” How can the government implement policies that impact Americans’ job availability and then double down by providing essentially one, expensive option for a cornerstone of their daily lives?

In addition to the financial strain this forced electric transition will have on consumers, it also heightens serious, existing concerns for Montana’s electric grid. Electrification of Montana vehicles will cause an inevitable increase in demand on our state’s limited grid capacity.

I commend Sen. Steve Daines’ and Attorney General Knudsen’s efforts to oppose this mandate, but unfortunately, it may not be enough.

We need Sen. Tester and all of our office holders to stand against this mandate from Washington, D.C. because failing to do so puts Montana consumers, and our energy security, in jeopardy.

Alan Olson is the Executive Director of the Montana Petroleum Association

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