Montana News Roundup: Here’s When Our “Fire Summer” Starts

Warmer-than-normal MONTANA temperatures aren't helping the fire outlook in the Northern Rockies, with the latest forecast showing "above normal" significant fire potential for most of Montana in August.

The May 1st outlook from the National Interagency Coordination Center's Predictive Services Unit shows the continuing trend forecast last month, with average snowpack coming off fast and temperatures leaning "above normal" for most of the state this month, with some rains predicted from the Bitterroot through Southwest Montana.

When Will Montana's Fire Season Really Start?

     -Below normal precipitation will kick in during June, with significant fire potential for the Idaho panhandle, but not Montana.

Forecasters expect that to reverse in July and August with an "above normal" potential for big fires spreading across the entire state in August, with the exception of far Northeast Montana, and the region around Yellowstone.

READ MORE: How to Safeguard Your Home from Montana Fires

Snow Helps on Montana's First Fire of 2025

Yesterday's wet weather certainly helped on the first big blaze of the season, where the Sawlog Fire has burned 1500 acres northeast of Wisdom in the Big Hole.

There was even some snow on the fire scene Monday morning.

There was no significant growth in the fire burning on Forest Service and BLM land yesterday, and containment increased to 10%.

A Gruesome Killing on The Front

     -Lewis and Clark County authorities are now confirming that the deaths of two men south of Augusta is a murder-suicide case.

Sheriff Leo Dutton told KTVH that work at the state crime lab has confirmed Scott Steinbach shot his brother, and then set his body on fire before killing himself. Their parents, who were home at the time, managed to escape the burning house. Detectives determined Ty Steinbach had been shot multiple times.

Authorities haven't elaborated on a motive for the killing.

Montana's Dead Bird Mystery is Solved

Montana FWP has determined that the strange bird "die off" on the Bighorn River last winter was apparently because the birds starved.

🍿 🎥 Montana Attraction is Worth the Drive… In

It's an experience not only unique in Montana, but now rare in the entire country, as Tom O'Neil reports…

Montana Tuesday Trivia

Missoula's Go West Drive-in was one of the largest in Montana before it closed, with capacity for 700 cars before it closed in October 1999 after a showing of "The Sixth Sense." That's twice the capacity when it opened with room for 400 cars in 1948 as the Mt. Vu Motor-In.