Montana Officials Warn of Elevated Wildfire Risk From Increasing Drought, Heat and Wind

Montana officials are warning that the 2026 wildfire season could bring above-normal fire risk to parts of the state, driven by a mix of drought conditions, wind events and warmer-than-average winter temperatures. At a statewide wildfire outlook briefing on Tuesday, Gov. Greg Gianforte joined state, local and federal officials to discuss preparedness for the upcoming fire season, including expected weather patterns, firefighter staffing levels, funding availability and new technologies being deployed to detect and respond to fires more quickly. “As we look ahead to the season, our goal is straightforward: be prepared,” Gianforte said. “Work together to protect Montana families, homes, communities and the natural resources that support our incredible way of life.” Firefighter and public safety will remain the top priority, he said, adding that the state is committed to aggressively containing fires while they are still small. ICN Weekly Saturdays Our #1 delivers the week’s climate and energy news – our original stories and top headlines from around the web. Get ICN Weekly Inside Clean Energy Thursdays Dan Gearino’s habit-forming weekly take on how to understand the energy transformation reshaping our world. Get Inside Clean Energy Today’s Climate Tuesdays A once-a-week digest of the most pressing climate-, written . Get Today’s Climate Don’t miss a beat. Get a daily email of our original, groundbreaking stories written -winning reporters. Get ICN Sunday Morning Go behind the scenes with executive editor Vernon Loeb and ICN reporters as they discuss one of the week’s top stories. Get ICN Sunday Morning Justice & Health A digest of stories on the inequalities that worsen the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said it is fully staffed and ready for the fire season. However, officials stressed that wildfire response depends on coordination across state, local, federal and tribal agencies. And the initial attacks on small fires are usually done , many of them volunteer departments that have faced recruitment challenges, despite their critical role. “Are our local fire services totally prepared? We’d like to say yes, but we are challenged,” said Rich Cowger, president emeritus of the Montana State Fire Chiefs, who noted that more than 300 local fire departments protect over 45 million acres across the state. “Our volunteer systems are stretched. Volunteerism today isn’t what it was in years past,” he said. That challenge comes as fire departments across Montana are facing growing demand for emergency response services.