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Dual wildfires causing chaos on Montana-Wyoming border

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Dual wildfires causing chaos on Montana-Wyoming border


Two major fires are threatening southeast Montana.

The Barber Draw fire sparked Wednesday just northwest of the Tongue River Reservoir and is currently at 8,000 acres in size.

The Remington fire first began in Wyoming but crossed the Montana, Wyoming border Thursday around 6 pm. As of 5:15 p.m. Friday, the fire has burned 128,771 acres. Pre-evacuation orders are still in place for the area south of Ashland to the Rosebud County Line.

The fire has crossed into three different counties: Powder River, Big Horn, and the southern end of Rosebud.

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Keith Gerber is the operations chief with Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and said they were originally at Tongue Reservoir for the Barber Draw fire, but the Remington fire quickly took precedent.

“We have close to 120 resources up there on the line for the Barber Draw fire, from smoke jumpers to contract engines, hand crews, dozers, blades,” said Gerber. “As of now, we’re setting up camp to support both the Barber Draw incident, our original team assignment, and potentially some operational support logistics for the Remington fire.”

Photo Gallery: Remington fire burns through Wyoming and Montana

The cause of the fire was determined to be lightning due to recent storms.

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“Several recent rounds of moisture have come across Montana and thrown down some very abundant lightning with rain,” said Gerber.

As the fire grows, things are not looking positive for their efforts due to hot temperatures and high winds forecasted for Saturday.

“As large as this fire is, it’s not going to go out tomorrow. We’re going to have to get boots on the ground and folks around the perimeter of the fire to make sure it’s not going to move anywhere,” said Gerber.

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MTN News

The fires have affected many in the area, including the Tongue River Reservoir Marina. This is the third time they had to order evacuations this summer.

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“Being our third evacuation now, the worst part of this is the rentals, because a large part of our sales comes from boat rentals and days like today when the boat ramp is closed. We’re talking a significant amount of money that we have to bring back and missed sales as well,” said Ryan Bogers, the marina’s owner.

Bogers said this has significantly impacted their business, especially when they only have 10 days of their season left. They were hoping to be able to open back up on Friday, but due to the increasing Remington fire, that was not possible.

“It’s definitely concerning, especially when you drive and see black spots along the highway,” said Bogers.

The owner even assisted the fire crews on Thursday fighting fires, who had camps set along the reservoir with multiple aircraft pulling water out of the river.

“Right now, we’re just helping the fire crews out the best we can and let them do what they need to do,” said Bogers.

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Fire season has taken a toll for many, and as the fire continues to expand, the future of the season is uncertain.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said Bogers.

Additional reporting from Mack Carmack





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

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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.

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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.

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

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


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.

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

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


  • Crans-Montana fire causes booking cancellations
  • Verbier hospitality sector backs stricter safety checks
  • Senior lawmaker calls for national review to harmonise safety standards
  • Any such push may face resistance in country that prizes local autonomy
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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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)

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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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