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• Forecasters release fire season outlook

  April 30, 2012 2:21 PM

  Forecasters are still putting the final touches on their forecast for the upcoming wildfire season and it appears that a relatively normal season is expected in western Montana. Normal to above normal precipitation occurred during the winter across the Northwest and northern Rockies, but much below normal precipitation left... more »

• Recent Flathead grass fires raise questions about fire season Play Video

  April 10, 2012 7:11 PM

  KALISPELL- Open burning season has been keeping Flathead County fire departments busy over the past few weeks. Grass across much of the valley is still dead from snow cover, but Flathead County Fire Service Area Manager Lincoln Chute says that when you add sun and wind a burn can... more »

• Forecasting Montana fire season a tricky task Play Video

  May 25, 2011 10:11 AM

  MISSOULA- We've heard the terms La Nina and El Nino, but just how do the two weather patterns affect forecasting? StormTracker Weather forecaster Chrissy Kohler set out to see how the fire experts factor La Nina into their predictions. Predicting weather for the near future is complex task, but... more »

• A look at predicting Montana's wildfire season Play Video

  May 24, 2011 8:58 AM

  MISSOULA- It's one of the hot topics every year right about now- just how bad will Montana's fire season be? Meteorologist Russ Thomas takes a look at the science behind the wildfire forecast. It truly is a science in every sense of the word, from hypotheses to formulas, to... more »

• PREVIEW: Predicting Montana's wildfire season

  May 23, 2011 9:46 PM

  MISSOULA- It is one of the hottest topics discussed in western Montana this time of year: Fire season. In our special report, Meteorologist Russ Thomas takes a look at the science behind predicting wildfires. The role fire season plays on the way we plan our summers cannot be overlooked.... more »

• Early spring fire burns 250 acres

  April 12, 2011 10:02 PM

  Fire, Controlled Burn, Spring, Belt, Fire Season, Montana, KTVQ NEAR BELT, Mont. - Farmers and ranchers across Montana are using the relative calm and comfortable temperatures to burn stubble fields and slash piles, but in a few instances, the controlled burns have briefly gotten out of control. A... more »

• Flathead officials preparing for fire season

  March 24, 2011 9:58 PM

  KALISPELL- Fire crews are already gearing up for this year's wildfire season with over 300 members of the Incident Management Team in the Northern Rockies meeting in Kalispell to prepare for wildland fires and update their current procedures. The Flathead National Forest Service is encouraging homeowners to also start... more »

• MT National Guard stands ready for fire season Play Video

  July 27, 2010 11:44 PM

  HELENA - The Montana National Guard has a new tool which could aid local fire departments in fighting wildland fires as they recently the National Guard has established a dip site at Fort Harrison. The concrete pool refills itself when water is taken out of it. The National Guard... more »

• NRCC: 2010 fire season should be 'normal' Play Video

  June 23, 2010 3:05 PM

  MISSOULA - The Northern Rockies Coordination Center is almost ready to release their summer fire outlook assessment for Montana, Northern Idaho and North Dakota. The official repot comes out on July 1st, but we sat down with their meteorologist to get a sneak peek at this season's fire potential.... more »

• Preparations underway for 2010 fire season

  March 16, 2010 9:43 AM

  BOZEMAN - With drought conditions already being experienced in Montana, several signs point to a potential bad fire season, prompting some to begin taking precautions for the 2010 wildfire season. Predicting a fire season is tricky business with several still unknown factors to play into the upcoming season. Though... more »

• Mild, dry winter sparks wildfire concerns Play Video

  January 26, 2010 3:05 PM

  This year's dry winter and low snowpack totals may be cause for some apprehension as we head into the Spring and Summer of 2010. Thanks to our El Nino Winter in Western Montana, we're seeing snowpack levels down 25% to 50% from the average with warmer than normal temperatures.... more »