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Wildfire assessments key prevention tool for Montana homeowners

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Wildfire assessments key prevention tool for Montana homeowners


MISSOULA – It is by no means too early to organize your property and residential for wildfire season in Montana.

Whereas state and federal hearth managers do their half to cut back danger, there’s an growing significance on property house owners taking steps to take care of the hazard, conserving themselves and firefighters secure.

Raging firestorms, burned properties and displaced residents. Western hearth seasons are alarming, seemingly with no security.

“That may really feel overwhelming. And so, what we love to do is we wish to stroll round with a house owner and inform them some issues they’ll actually work on proper now at present,” stated Chris Johnson with the Missoula County Fireplace Safety Affiliation (MCFPA).

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Organizations just like the MCFPA have been ramping up “group assessments”, the place firefighters discuss with householders about hearth dangers.

“Can be a fireplace that had gained some steam and was throwing ember showers down into the underside of the valley right here. That is what I’d say might be the least seemingly, however highest likelihood to impression your private home,” Johnson informed firefighters throughout a coaching session.

“Take into consideration 1,000,000 buzzing bees, little embers that land on your own home simply each once in a while, briefly length,” Johnson informed MTN Information. “The Roaring Lion Fireplace down in Hamilton, you will get ember showers as much as half-mile away on an enormous day like that.”

“When these columns actually rise up and so they’ll construct, they are a large power of elevate, and so you will get pinecones, limbs from bushes from 1/2 mile away. And all these actually tremendous needles on a few of these bushes, they’re very aerodynamic,” Johnson added.

The day we stopped by there was evaluation coaching for firefighters happening. It’s an academic effort, with confidential knowledge just for the fireplace departments. However stating much less apparent dangers, like attic vents and vegetation near properties.

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“And I have a look at your own home and I am not seeing shrubs up towards it. Not seeing vegetation touching it, something flamable,” Johnson defined to the trainees. “Like some individuals have a cedar fence that goes and touches that the home. These generally is a fuse to the home.”

“Properly, it is actual rewarding for me to get that validation that each one the work that I used to be doing is setting an instance for my buddies and neighbors right here,” stated Grant Creek home-owner John Langstaff.

Mapping identifies issues but additionally options essential if a fireplace breaks, like the place to get water, whether or not properties have correct addresses, and room to park engines. “And that is much less stress on me. Much less hazard to firefighters, good for everyone throughout,” Johnson stated.

Langstaff, a retired Missoula firefighter, hopes everybody takes motion.

“Properly, one thing as I see it actually frightened me. As a result of I’d not wish to be subjected to preventing a fireplace in a few of these lower than protected properties,” Langstaff stated. “They could as nicely simply write them off if they don’t seem to be going to do the work. However you understand, you are not defending simply your self, you are defending your neighbors.”

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“So, these assessments are completely essential to get the group concerned and to tell responders who’re arising when the day is finished. When the day is unhealthy,” Johnson concluded.

For extra details about assessments, examine along with your native hearth division.

Dennis Bragg’s report on hearth property assessments was a part of our MTN Unique report “Dwelling with Wildfire.” Watch the total particular under.

Dwelling with Wildfire

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Montana

Seeking Backcountry Lines In One Of Montana's Least Known Mountain Ranges

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Seeking Backcountry Lines In One Of Montana's Least Known Mountain Ranges


Just south of Lewiston, Montana, lies one of Montana’s least known mountain ranges, the Big Snowy Mountains. They aren’t known to receive tons of snow, they aren’t massive, and they really do just seem to pop out from the middle of nowhere. But they’re there, and that means someone has probably at least dreamt of skiing them.

Seeking out online information on ski runs in those mountains is fruitless. There’s little (if any) information, and if it weren’t for a comment on a TikTok video, I’d be convinced nobody had ever skied in there before this crew. Having done the same research and coming up similarly empty, Jordan Skattum, Nathan Saier, and Benjamin Flook set out to find ski lines in the mountain range.

Roadside Attractions is a series dedicated to discovering hidden mountain ranges that few, if any, have skied. Each episode takes you to remote locations where we camp at the base of these untouched ranges and spend weeks exploring their potential. In Episode 1, we dive headfirst into the Big Snowy Mountains, just south of Lewistown, MT. Known neither for heavy snowfalls nor skiing, we set out on an adventure to see if it’s possible to get some turns in this unique range.

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Search continues for woman missing northeast of Helena

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Search continues for woman missing northeast of Helena


HELENA — On Sunday at McMaster Hills Trailhead helicopters, search and rescue teams, the Sheriff’s Department, and numerous volunteers continue the search for a 27-year-old woman, who went missing on Friday, October 4th. On Saturday, October 5th her horse and her phone were found.

On Friday Meghan Rouns went for a ride. Her family last heard from her around 2 p.m. Her parents called the Sheriff’s Department at 8:00 p.m. when she hadn’t returned. Friday, search and rescue was mobilized in the McMaster Recreation area.

Search teams of all forms have been pouring over the area since Rouns was reported missing.

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Sunday focused on the west side of the area and working the waters.

Both Friday and Saturday saw temperatures in the mid to low thirties in the McMaster recreation area according to Chief Meteorologist Curtis Grevinitz at KTVH.

Madelyn Heath, MTN News

Multiple agencies from surrounding counties have taken part in the search for Rouns. Saturday night and Sunday a helicopter from the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls joined in the search.

On Sunday the focus was on Hauser Lake, a robotic-operated vehicle and divers were brought in a mile and half downriver from Canyon Ferry Dam.

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Madelyn Heath, MTN News

Since Friday the following agencies have assisted in the search: Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue Units, MT ANG, Mercy Flight from Great Falls, Malmstrom Air Force Base helicopter, Helena Police Department drones, Helena Fire Department drones, IFlyBigSky, Elkhorn Search and Rescue Dogs, True North Search Dogs, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Bureau of Land Management, and community volunteers.

Rouns’s cell phone GPS data maps heavy presence in the lake.

“Her horse was found just up the hill from the lake, so this has become our primary area to search from the evidence we have gathered,” said Willy Wegner, the operations lieutenant of Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue.

In addition to the evidence that has been found, search and rescue teams have been using a process of elimination method.

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“As we search areas, the more we search it the lower probability that area becomes, so then we will move to another area,” noted Wegner.

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Madelyn Heath, MTN News

In addition to the heavy search presence on the water Sunday, volunteers are hiking the area to find even the smallest of clues.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton says, “With the amount of volunteers that we have we assign them to a sector and have them report back. They are doing a good job.”

Sheriff Dutton confirmed a spur found by volunteers Saturday did not belong to Meghan.

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After speaking with Meghan’s parents, brother, and sister-in-law they shared their gratitude towards all the effort given by the community to find Meghan.

Search and Rescue and the Sheriff’s Department share those same feelings.

“We need to coordinate the search; we will use people that come and help. I’m inspired by everyone who has left what they are doing today to come out to this area,” Dutton said.

As we learn more we will share the updates.

Editor’s note: An original version of this story incorrectly said Meghan Rouns was expected to be back by 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct 4. 2 p.m. on Oct. 4, 2024, was the last time her parents directly heard from her according to officials.

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Griz drop home game to Wildcats; give up 104 points in 2 games

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Griz drop home game to Wildcats; give up 104 points in 2 games


(Montana Sports Information) Weber State struck with several big plays early to take an 11-point halftime lead and hit on more big plays in the second half to stifle a Montana comeback attempt, with the Wildcats upsetting the Grizzlies 55-48 in overtime at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday.

WSU quarterback Richie Munoz threw for 364 yards and six touchdowns, with three of those scores from 50-plus out. The Wildcats also rushed for 177 more to gash the Grizzly defense for 541 yards and added a kickoff return touchdown as well in a Big Sky shootout.

UM quarterback Logan Fife piled-up big numbers for a second-straight week, completing 73 percent of his passes for 344 yards and a pair of TDs. Led by four total touchdowns with three on the ground from Eli Gillman, the Grizzly rushing attack put up 172 yards for 527 total but couldn’t punch it in for one last score in overtime.

In a back-and-forth thriller that saw six lead changes, the Grizzlies scored four touchdowns and a field goal in the second half to take a 48-45 lead with less than a minute to play. The Wildcat one-minute drill marched the visitors back into Montana territory in short order, however, setting up kicker Kyle Thompson for a 43-yard field goal that snuck just inside the left upright to send it to overtime, 48-48.

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In the extra period WSU scored first on a reviewed touchdown catch where it appeared Damon Bankston had come back to the field of play from running out of bounds. He was ruled as having been forced out by a Grizzy defender, however, making him eligible for the go-ahead touchdown catch to make it 55-48.

With an opportunity to send it to double overtime on the ensuing Grizzly drive, Fife was sacked and stripped of the ball, which Weber State recovered to seal its third-straight win over Montana.

The heartbreaker of a loss drops UM to 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play, snapping the Grizzly streak of 15-straight wins at home. Weber State improves to 3-3 on the year and stays unbeaten in Big Sky play at 2-0.

“I’m proud of our team. They battled back. We were up against it, we were down, things didn’t go well early, but we really fought back, took the lead a couple times, but we just couldn’t come up with it,” said head coach Bobby Hauck, now 8-4 in his career over WSU.

“That’s unfortunate because we did enough to win it. There were a lot of close calls, it seemed like every break went their way, but those deep balls we gave up, the kickoff return, and the two fumbles really cost us.”

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(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

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(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

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(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

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(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

(William Munoz/Missoula Current)

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(William Munoz/Missoula Current)





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