Fires in Southwest Montana

©2012 Ken W. Hall  Pony Fire

©2012 Ken W. Hall  Pony Fire

©2012 Ken W. Hall  Pony Fire

This has been a difficult week for our neighbors in Pony, Bear Trap Canyon, Whitehall, and Helena.  Fires broke out in all these areas just as we were experiencing some of the worst winds of the season with gusts up to fifty miles per hour.

Firefighting efforts were grounded due to the winds and in some cases not much could be done.  Today it is calmer.  Perhaps the fire fighters will make more progress toward containing these fires.

Some were caused by lightening but the Bear Trap Canyon fire was set by fireworks.  It has burned one home and thousands of acres.  Our beautiful drive to Bozeman is changed for many years to come.

You can get local updates on the fires from The Madisonian on the Bear Trap Fire and the Pony Fire and our local television station.

Temperatures have been above normal reaching into the mid to high nineties during the day.  The forecast for the next three months is above average temperatures and dry conditions.