On Friday, 155 soldiers of Bravo Company, 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion and the 631st Chemical Company, were activated to support the Lolo Peak Fire.
The soldiers are scheduled to arrive at the fire on Saturday, and will staff 35 security checkpoints around the fire area to free law enforcement personnel for other duties.
This new activation begins as two Montana National Guard helicopters continue to combat the Meyers Fire near Philipsburg, and another helicopter is operating on fires near Kalispell. A fourth helicopter will arrive in Missoula starting Monday to begin fire operations there.
Governor Steve Bullock has declared a fire emergency for Montana, which authorizes Montana National Guard support to wildfire efforts as needed.
Potential further deployments of helicopter and ground support are being examined.