Forecast offers possible relief by Wednesday
EBS STAFF
Over the weekend, residents across the southwest Montana region awoke to hazy skies as smoke from fires near and far began affecting air quality. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert until 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. Counties affected by elevated particulate levels from wildfire smoke include Broadwater, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow and Teton.
Air Quality Index levels in Big Sky as of 3 p.m. on Sept. 9 hovered between 180 and 200, or “Unhealthy,” according to live monitoring from airnow.gov. There is also a Red Flag Warning issued for most of the region, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. “Gusty westerly winds will combine with low relative humidity in the afternoon to possibly cause rapid spread of new fire starts,” the alert stated.
Find recommendations for outdoor recreation in all stages of air quality here.
Fires in western Montana, Idaho contribute to smoke
These dry conditions have contributed to growth in fires in western Montana, including the Grouse Fire east of Wisdom, the Johnson Fire burning just east of Sula and the Sharrott Creek Fire just west of Stevensville. According to Montana DEQ, the Sharrott Fire is currently the largest staffed wildfire in the state, with 355 personnel assigned to it.
The Wapiti Fire in eastern Idaho is the state’s largest active fire, at nearly 116,000 acres and only 12% containment.
Montana DEQ expects a low pressure system arriving Wednesday to help move some of the smoke out and possibly bring some precipitation to the area.
