Citizens Have a Shared Responsibility

Many have noted the smoke in the air from the fires burning in Canada. With that haze comes a stark reminder – the first stages of prime wildfire season have arrived in Montana and Jefferson County. The seasonal wildfire outlook for this summer is grim. According to the National Interagency Coordination Center, Montana’s significant wildland fire potential indicates a greater than usual likelihood that significant wildland fires will occur this summer (National Wildland Significant Fire Potential Outlook, 2025). Locally, our wildland fire fuels (grass, shrubs, and trees) are drying, are recept...