Given almost a decade of drought, our forests are extremely dry. Hot weather continues, and small dry weather systems make fire activity unpredictable. We already have a number of large fires, and with small fires cropping up daily, our resources are beginning to be stretched. Throughout the fire season, I ask you to keep these thoughts in mind:
n Remember, the person most likely to save your life and home is you. Creating defensible space around your home is critical. It helps local and state firefighters protect not only your property, but that of your community. Clear branches, dry grass, leaves and needles away from the house, and remove excess vegetation. Keep your roof and gutters free of debris. Pile firewood and other flammable materials away from your house. Maintain a ready source of water, preferably from a tank or a supply that doesn't rely on electricity.
n Personal safety is our highest priority. I want to be sure that every citizen, firefighter, fire camp worker, law enforcement officer, and volunteer working on or affected by wildfires makes it safely through the summer. No home, stand of timber or piece of property is worth a life. It's as simple as that.
The wildfires this summer are resisting control, more so than experts have ever experienced. I have already authorized state officials and the National Guard to spend money for aggressive initial early attack on fires. In many cases, even getting resources mobilized within an hour of detection isn't enough to keep these fires small. Experienced firefighters say they are seeing fires spot across canyons and upwind, and otherwise behaving erratically. Most of these fires are started by lightning, and we will do everything in our power to put them out immediately. Let's pray for our firefighters and say an extra prayer for rain and early snow.
n There will be smoke in the air. There is simply too much fire activity in the region to avoid the smoke, and with the high pressure weather system parked over most of Montana, it's not likely to change any time soon. I know that for some this is an annoyance, while for others it's a health crisis, so please check on your neighbors, especially the elderly, and heed the air quality in your area each day.
Working together, we will get through this. We all have a stake in managing these fires, and each of us can do our part to help the professionals and hold on for better weather. Many of us have homes near fire-prone, forested areas. We are living with drought and weather variations. We face these fires with limited resources. At the same time, we as Montanans understand these challenges, and we will work together to help each other remain safe.
Brian Schweitzer is the governor of Montana.
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