Montana’s wildfires are part of growing national emergency, should be treated like other natural disasters
July 30, 2017
The nation’s worst wildfires are burning in Montana. Thousands of acres have been scorched, and thousands more will be lost before the last flame is doused this season. Already more than a dozen homes have been destroyed, and the running total of property damage is climbing. The smoke is harming air quality in many communities, including Missoula. Worst of all, a firefighter’s life has been lost. Wildfires in Montana are a certainty we anticipate every summer. The only question is how bad the fires will be – and how much they will cost us. Beyond Montana, wildfires are a growing