Montana is now ranked second highest on the Forest Service’s firefighting priority list, behind the combined states of Idaho, Utah and Nevada, Jerry Meyer, the federal agency’s liaison to state government, said.
That’s the bad news, Meyer said, but the good news is that high priority level means that Montana can expect assistance of getting firefighters and equipment when the situation calls for it.
Despite the fires, Schweitzer said he wants encourage out-of-state tourists to continue to come to Montana. There are still plenty of places for tourists to visit in Montana, he said.
“I want everyone to know that Montana is still open for business,” he said. “Fires are a natural part of the cycle of Montana. To the tourist industry, we need them to understand we are going to continue to attract people to come to Montana.”
About half of the 10 million out-of-state tourists who visit Montana annually come during June, July and August, with the largest portion coming the latter two months, said Betsy Baumgart, administrator of the Montana Promotion Division.
Schweitzer had a couple of pieces of advice for Montanans:
“Say a prayer,” he said.
The governor urged people with homes in “the urban-rural interface” to take care of their own homes by removing trees and split wood that touch homes and creating escape routes for their families, livestock and pets.
“You will save your home by what you do now, not when the fire arrives,” he said.
State Natural Resources and Conservation Director Mary Sexton said the state already has spent $1.3 million fighting fires, which is more than it was at this time a year ago. Last year, state firefighting costs were $35 million.
She said county commissioners are using their new power to impose restrictions on lands.
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