It has been a long and challenging fire season here in Montana. Our friends, family members, and neighbors have lost their homes, livestock, forage, and critical infrastructure. And above all, we have tragically lost the lives of two wildland firefighters.
With over one million acres having burned or currently on fire, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. Individuals and businesses all across the state have been impacted and have endured losses due to evacuations, hazardous air quality, and sustained threats to our economy and natural resources.
This week I sat down with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long to urge additional assistance and resources to help fight Montana’s wildfires. I will continue to pursue every available resource to support fire response and recovery, and I am again asking FEMA to work with Montana to ensure the long-term health, safety, and livelihood of Montanans impacted by this disaster.
I asked FEMA to help expedite the review and approvals of additional Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) requests, and consider the ability to apply for FMAGs across multiple fires. I asked FEMA to work with Montana to help identify a path to support individual assistance. I requested that criteria and thresholds across multiple fires be addressed to make resources available for those in Montana who have faced significant impacts. To date, FEMA has issued FMAGs for the Lodgepole Complex Fire and the Lolo Peak Fire, which is helping to support firefighting costs on those fires.
Montana will continue to support our firefighting needs regardless of available funding. We will continue to do everything we can to make sure folks on the ground have the resources they need to protect Montanans and their property until every fire is put out.
Forecasts this weekend are predicting that conditions will continue to make fighting these fires even more challenging. We Montanans pull together to support of our neighbors and loved ones during tough times. It is part of who we are and what makes our communities strong. Everyone – neighbor to neighbor – must work to help those affected by the fires, do our part to prevent any human-caused fires, and encourage our fire fighters to hold the lines.
Please stay safe, stay informed, and help us hold the line all across Montana. Thank you and stay vigilant.
Gov. Steve Bullock
Helena