This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday.
The Sharrott Creek and Remington fires remain the state’s two most-staffed fires, though both have remained a relatively consistent size since Tuesday of this week. Despite hot, dry conditions, forecasters don’t expect storms or wind that could start new fires or fan existing blazes this weekend.
The Remington Fire was first reported on Thursday, Aug. 22, in Sheridan County, Wyoming. As of Friday, it had grown to 300 square miles, most of that in Montana’s Powder River, Big Horn and Rosebud counties. It remains the largest wildfire in the state this season. A Complex Incident Management Team took command of firefighting operations on Monday. According to an update from Brandon Glenn, a section chief with the management team, responders continue to dig fire lines along the blaze’s northwestern edge, south of Birney, and along the fire’s eastern edge near the border between Rosebud and Powder River counties.
In western Montana, the Sharrott Creek Fire is burning more than 1,300 acres west of Stevensville. The Sharrott Creek Fire was first reported on Friday, Aug. 23, and grew rapidly the following day. It has not grown substantially since a Complex Incident Management Team assumed command of firefighting operations on Tuesday.
While a number of additional fires grew across western Montana earlier in the week, the more active blazes have since slowed their growth.
The Big Hollow Fire, covering almost 3,500 acres of Beaverhead County along the border with Idaho, is now 90% contained. The Ratio Mountain Fire is burning 15 miles northwest of Whitehall. While not contained, it has not increased in size since Tuesday. Additionally, the McElwain Fire was first reported 20 miles west of Helmville on Friday, Aug. 23, and is considered 25% contained.
LATEST STORIES
Federal judge blocks Montana’s AI campaign ad law
A Montana law regulating the use of generative artificial intelligence in campaign ads has been dealt a blow by a federal judge based on freedom of speech concerns. The order greenlights general election advertising that former legislator Dan Bartel and ASG PAC planned to use, but feared being prosecuted for.
Montanans are using AI, but remain wary of its societal impact
Almost four years after OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT, AI is now firmly rooted in many Montanans’ day-to-day tasks, according to a Montana Free Press-Eagleton poll of registered voters conducted in late August and early September. More Montanans use AI — and to some extent trust AI — for general searches, work tasks and writing, than for more intimate functions, like medical advice or companionship. Users remain skeptical of the technology’s broader impacts, too. Only about 12% believe AI has a “somewhat” or “very positive” impact on society.
Broadview area data center sees first phase of construction with roads, well work
Quantica has agreed to use local, unionized labor when possible, under a memorandum of understanding it signed with the Southeastern Montana Building and Construction Trades Council. Riley McCauley, vice president of the council, said they won’t have details on job numbers or wages until Quantica has secured an “end user,” or a digital or AI company, to purchase the facility.
