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Public Safety
Public Safety
Sun Canyon Road Reopens After Rockslide Cleared on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:47
Sun Canyon Road is back open after a rockslide blocked the route on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Forest officials confirmed the slide has been fully cleared and the road is accessible to the public.
Public Safety
AI-Generated 'Cat in the Hat' School Threat Videos Alarm Parents in Hardin — A Warning for Montana Schools
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
A TikTok trend featuring AI-generated videos of a distorted, threatening version of the Cat in the Hat character has reached at least one Montana community, with a video specifically naming Hardin Middle School and putting parents and local law enforcement on alert. The trend, which has spread across social media platforms, pairs unsettling visuals of the classic children's character with explicit threats directed at schools and students.
Public Safety
Flood Watch Posted for North-Central Montana Through Monday Midday
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:46
The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued a Flood Watch Monday morning covering a swath of north-central Montana, warning that excessive rainfall could produce flooding through noon MDT. The watch went into effect at 5:10 a.m. and covered several regions that have already absorbed days of rain from a slow-moving storm system.
Public Safety
Flood Watch Covers North-Central Montana Through Sunday
2 sources · nws weather alerts · 06:46
A Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service office in Great Falls covers a broad swath of north-central Montana from Tuesday afternoon through Sunday midday, with excessive rainfall the primary concern for communities across the region.
Public Safety
Rockslide Closes Portions of Sun Canyon Road; Delays Expected Through the Week
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:46
Drivers heading into the Sun Canyon area should plan for significant delays this week after a rockslide deposited boulders across Sun Canyon Road, prompting emergency removal work by the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
Public Safety
Fire Season Isn't Over. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Is Telling You That Loudly.
edition · 09:01
Four separate wildfire stories ran this week, and that number alone should tell you something about where we are in the summer. The Cora Creek Fire burned 280 acres in Cascade County. A human-caused blaze ignited — and was contained — at three acres in Lewis and Clark County. Two more fires in central Montana were reported with causes still under investigation. The Helena National Forest closed Mill Falls Campground starting August 31 and issued an updated closure order for trails in the Camp Creek Fire area, superseding an earlier order as crews continue working that incident. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest was the second most-mentioned entity in this week's coverage, trailing only Helena itself — a reflection of just how much forest business is shaping daily life right now. For residents planning late-summer camping trips, the message is straightforward: call ahead, check the forest orders, and assume your favorite trailhead may have new restrictions since you last looked. The human-caused fire in Lewis and Clark County is a particular reminder that a lot of this season's damage is preventable. Campfire bans and restrictions exist for a reason, and right now that reason is standing in a dry field somewhere west of Helena.
Public Safety
Cora Creek Fire Scorches 280 Acres in Cascade County; Human-Caused Blaze Contained in Lewis and Clark County
2 sources · daily montanan · 06:46
Two wildfires burned in the region this week, with a blaze in Cascade County consuming 280 acres and a separate human-caused fire igniting in Lewis and Clark County before it could spread.
Public Safety
Human-Caused Fire Burns 3 Acres in Lewis and Clark County
1 source · nifc wildfires · 06:47
A human-caused wildfire burned three acres in Lewis and Clark County this week. The Four Cees fire was reported and contained at that size, according to incident information released by fire officials.
Public Safety
Bounty Hunter Tracks Billings Homicide Suspect to Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Says Authorities Won't Act
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
Leeland Chapman, a bounty hunter known from the television series Dog the Bounty Hunter, says he spent more than two weeks tracking a man wanted in connection with a Billings homicide before locating him on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer — and that authorities have still not moved to make an arrest. Chapman went public with his account this week, describing a situation that highlights the jurisdictional friction that can stall law enforcement action when suspects cross into tribal lands.
Public Safety
Helena National Forest Closes Mill Falls Campground and Access Road Starting August 31
1 source · helena national forest alerts · 06:46
The Helena National Forest will close Mill Falls Campground and its access road beginning August 31, 2026, under Forest Order #01-15-01-26-04. The closure affects campers and recreational users who rely on the area, one of the more accessible camping destinations within the forest's reach from the valley.
Public Safety
Two Small Wildfires Burning in Central Montana; Causes Under Investigation
2 sources · nifc wildfires · 06:48
Two new wildfires were reported in central Montana this week, adding to what has been an active fire season across the region. The Porcupine Fire in Powell County has burned approximately 7 acres, while the Sheep Fire in Meagher County has consumed around 3 acres. The cause of both fires remains undetermined.
Public Safety
Helena National Forest Updates Camp Creek Fire Trail Closure Order
1 source · helena national forest alerts · 06:48
The Helena National Forest has issued an updated closure order for trails in the Camp Creek Fire area, superseding an earlier order as firefighters continue working the blaze. The new order, numbered 01-10-D04-004-S-26, took effect August 28, 2026, and replaces Order 01-10-D04-0003-S-26.
Public Safety
Billings Community Raises Hundreds of Thousands for Families of Mass Shooting Victims
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:48
The Billings community has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of eight people killed in a mass shooting and house fire Sunday night, with online crowdfunding campaigns and local fundraisers drawing support from across Montana.
Public Safety
Helena's Safety Net Is Fraying at the Edges
edition · 09:01
Two public safety stories this week don't share a headline, but they share a theme: the infrastructure Helena's most vulnerable residents depend on is under serious stress. The Friendship Center, Helena's primary emergency shelter, is still recovering from a burst pipe in its fire suppression system that released hundreds of gallons of water into the building earlier this year — and the road back is a long one. Meanwhile, in Cascade County just up the road, state health officials confirmed Montana's first human case of West Nile virus in 2026, a reminder that late-summer mosquito season isn't over and that public health vigilance matters even as summer winds down. Neither story is a crisis on its own. Together, they point to a community where the margin for error is thin. For Helena residents who rely on or donate to the Friendship Center, now is a good time to check in on what the shelter needs as it rebuilds. For everyone else, health officials are asking that you drain standing water around your property as August closes out.
Public Safety
Montana National Guard Aircrew Home After Fighting Washington State Wildfires
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:49
A Montana Army National Guard aircrew returned home this week after deploying to Washington state to support wildfire suppression efforts, capping a mission that took them into some of the most active fire conditions in the region this season.
Public Safety
Helena's Friendship Center Faces Long Road Back After Burst Pipe Floods Shelter
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:48
A burst pipe in the fire suppression system at Helena's Friendship Center released hundreds of gallons of water into the building earlier this year, causing damage that executive director Kim Kehoe says will take months to fully repair. The Friendship Center serves survivors of domestic violence across a three-county area, making the facility's recovery a matter of safety for some of the region's most vulnerable residents.
Public Safety
Historic Poplar Cathedral Destroyed in Early Morning Fire
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:48
The Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Poplar burned to the ground early Tuesday morning, destroying a building that has hosted Sunday Mass every week since June 1942. The Poplar Volunteer Fire Department responded alongside crews from Culbertson, but the cathedral — a fixture of the small northeastern Montana community for more than eight decades — could not be saved. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Public Safety
Wildfire Season Tightens Its Grip on the Helena Region
edition · 09:02
If this week had a single dominant story, it was smoke. The Ant Park Fire appeared in five separate editions this week — burning near the North Fork of the Smith, drawing a Type 3 incident management team, climbing to 400 acres before reaching 40 percent containment, and triggering Red Flag conditions that kept firefighters on edge across the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest logged 158 mentions in this week's coverage, second only to Helena itself, a reflection of just how much of the region's attention has been pointed toward the trees. Beyond the Ant Park, the Sand Creek Fire near Polaris claimed the state's largest active blaze designation, Maverick Mountain Ski Area burned, the Queen Gulch Fire northeast of Boulder edged toward full containment, and a Flash Flood Watch covered the Horse Gulch burn scar through midweek. State officials, with fresh images of Spokane's urban fire damage in mind, spent part of the week urging residents to harden their homes — clean gutters, trim defensible space, replace wood shingles. The air quality alert that blanketed Lewis and Clark County through Saturday morning was a reminder that even residents not near a fire line are breathing its consequences. For Helena households, this week was a useful gut check: the question is no longer whether wildfire will be a factor in local life, but how prepared you are when it is.
Public Safety
Billings Woman's Postpartum Psychosis Story Gets Renewed Attention During National Murder Trial
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
Christine Dorris, a Billings woman who experienced postpartum psychosis firsthand, says she's been watching a national murder trial closely — one that has put the rare but severe mental health condition in front of a wider public audience than it's seen in years. Dorris, who has written about her experience and advocates for awareness of the condition, said the trial is prompting conversations she hopes will lead to better support for mothers in crisis.
Public Safety
Ant Park Fire Burns Near North Fork of the Smith; Northern Rockies Team 8 on Scene
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:47
The Ant Park Fire was burning roughly one mile south of Lost Fork Ridge near the headwaters of the North Fork of the Smith River as of Wednesday, August 13, according to a public update from the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 8, led by Incident Commander Nathan Stephens, is managing the fire, which is being tracked on InciWeb.
Public Safety
Montana Wildfires Spread; Maverick Mountain Ski Area Burns as Sand Creek Fire Grows Near Polaris
1 source · daily montanan · 06:47
Wildfires continued to spread across Montana this week, with the Sand Creek Fire near Polaris remaining the state's largest active blaze and the historic Maverick Mountain Ski Area among the structures lost to flames. Gov. Greg Gianforte, speaking Wednesday morning, called it a "big victory" that the Sand Creek Fire had not destroyed structures in its immediate path — though the broader picture across the state was one of escalating fire activity.
Public Safety
Romance Novelist Pleads Not Guilty in White Sulphur Springs Motel Killing
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
Kyle Ann Morrow, a 73-year-old romance novelist, entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to a charge of deliberate homicide in the death of Gene Gudmundson, the longtime owner of the Spa Hot Springs Motel in White Sulphur Springs. Morrow appeared in Meagher County court for the Tuesday afternoon proceeding, entering the courtroom smiling and waving.
Public Safety
Ant Park Fire at 400 Acres, 40 Percent Contained; Daily Updates Scaled Back
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:47
The Ant Park Fire burning in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest stood at 400 acres with 40 percent containment as of August 12, according to a public update from the forest. A crew of 144 personnel is assigned to the fire.
Public Safety
Flash Flood Watch Issued for Horse Gulch Burn Scar Through Wednesday Night
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:47
The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued a Flash Flood Watch early Wednesday morning for the Horse Gulch burn scar, including Riverside Campground, with the watch running through midnight Wednesday night. The concern is heavy rainfall falling on ground that has already been stripped of vegetation by fire — a combination that can produce fast-moving floods and debris flows with little warning.
Public Safety
Queen Gulch Fire Northeast of Boulder Reaches 75 Percent Containment
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:46
The Queen Gulch Fire, burning about 14 miles northeast of Boulder, has reached 75 percent containment, according to the latest update from the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The fire has grown to an estimated 8 to 9 acres since igniting on Tuesday, July 28, with the cause still listed as undetermined.
Public Safety
Ant Park Fire Burns Near Lost Fork Ridge on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:46
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is managing an active wildfire called the Ant Park Fire, located approximately one mile south of Lost Fork Ridge, according to a public update posted August 8. Northern Rockies Team 8, led by Incident Commander Nathan Stephens, is overseeing the response.
Public Safety
Air Quality Alert Covers Lewis and Clark County Through Saturday Morning
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:46
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality alert for Lewis and Clark County and sixteen other Montana counties Friday, with the warning running through 9 a.m. Saturday, August 9. The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued the alert at 8:02 a.m. Friday.
Public Safety
Controlled Blasting Underway at Park Lake Dam Site in Jefferson County
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:46
Contractors working on the Park Lake Dam project will use controlled blasting Monday to break apart roughly 25 large boulders — some larger than a bulldozer — as removal work continues at the site. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest posted the update Friday, noting that while the area remains closed to the public, residents in nearby parts of Jefferson County may hear loud noises during the work.
Public Safety
Ant Park Fire Burns Near Lost Fork Ridge as Red Flag Conditions Grip Helena Region
3 sources · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:47
A wildfire burning one mile south of Lost Fork Ridge in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest has drawn a Type 3 incident management team as fire weather conditions across Lewis and Clark County reach dangerous levels this week. The Ant Park Fire is being managed by Northern Rockies Team 8 under Incident Commander Nathan Stephens, with the public fire information line operating daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 406-420-3015.
Public Safety
Western Montana Is on Fire — and Helena Is Caught in the Smoke
edition · 09:01
If it felt like you couldn't catch a breath this week, you weren't imagining it. Wildfire smoke dominated the air quality conversation across Lewis and Clark County from Monday through Friday, with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest appearing in coverage nearly every day as the region's fire situation escalated fast. The Ant Park Fire drew a Northern Rockies Type 1 team and prompted road closures in the Little Belt Mountains. The Skillet Fire crossed 1,300 acres. Western Montana logged 118 new ignitions in a single week. A Red Flag Warning was still in effect for the Helena National Forest through Saturday evening, stacking fire risk on top of a heat advisory that could push local temperatures to 102 degrees. Helena got a brief reprieve Monday when the Air Quality Alert for Lewis and Clark County was lifted — but 'brief' is the operative word. The National Weather Service office in Great Falls, which issued multiple advisories this week, was one of the most-mentioned entities in this week's coverage. Bottom line for residents: fire season is not a forecast anymore. It's the current condition. Know your evacuation routes, keep N95 masks on hand, and check the DEQ's air quality map before spending extended time outdoors.
Public Safety
Ant Park Fire Burns Near North Fork of the Sun River; Northern Rockies Team Assigned
1 source · helena-lewis and clark national · 06:47
The Ant Park Fire was burning approximately one mile south of Lost Fork Ridge near the headwaters of the North Fork of the South Fork of the Sun River as of August 6th, according to an update posted by the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 8, led by Incident Commander Nathan Stephens, has been assigned to the fire.
Public Safety
Red Flag Warning in Effect for Helena National Forest Through Saturday Evening
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:47
The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of the Helena area beginning noon Friday and running through 9 p.m. Saturday, August 8th, citing a combination of hot temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative humidity that fire managers consider prime conditions for rapid fire spread.
Public Safety
Smoke Briefly Eases Over Helena as Western Montana Stays Socked In
2 sources · daily montanan · 06:46
Helena got a short break from wildfire smoke by Monday afternoon, with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reporting that much of the state's central corridor — including Great Falls and the capital — had seen conditions improve. The relief may not last long. DEQ forecasters cautioned that western Montana is likely to remain smoky, and Helena sits close enough to that boundary that another round of degraded air quality is possible depending on wind shifts and where active fires are burning.
Public Safety
Skillet Fire Tops 1,300 Acres as Western Montana Sees 118 New Ignitions This Week
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:46
Wildfire crews across Western Montana spent the weekend battling a wave of new ignitions, with at least 118 fires starting statewide in the past seven days alone — a pace that is stretching firefighting resources thin heading into August.
Public Safety
Air Quality Alert for Lewis and Clark County Lifted
2 sources · nws weather alerts · 06:46
The National Weather Service office in Great Falls cancelled the Air Quality Alert for Lewis and Clark County on August 2 at 9:12 a.m. MDT. The alert had also covered Beaverhead, Blaine, Broadwater, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Granite, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Petroleum, Phillips, Powell, Ravalli, and Silver Bow counties.
Public Safety
Forest Service Closes Roads in Little Belt Mountains as Ant Park Fire Burns
1 source · helena national forest alerts · 06:46
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest announced road closures and barrier deployments at six locations in the Little Belt Mountains starting August 1, as the Ant Park Fire continues to burn in the area and crews work to keep both the public and firefighters safe.
Public Safety
Heat Advisory in Effect Through Sunday Morning; Temperatures Could Hit 102 in Helena Area
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:46
The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued a heat advisory beginning noon Saturday and running through 3 a.m. Sunday, warning residents across portions of central, north central, and southwest Montana — including the Helena area — to expect high temperatures up to 102 degrees. The advisory was posted just after midnight Friday.
Public Safety
Fire Season Arrived All at Once — And Helena Felt Every Piece of It
edition · 09:01
If this week had a theme, it was smoke and heat. The National Weather Service in Great Falls issued a Heat Advisory, then a Heat Advisory upgrade to near-triple-digit warnings, then a Red Flag Warning for the Lewis and Clark National Forest — all within a few days of each other. The Helena National Forest sat under a Fire Weather Watch through the weekend. The Queen Gulch Fire burned 25 acres in Jefferson County. Two new fires ignited near the South Fork Fish Creek Community in the Ninemile Ranger District. The Twin Sisters Fire broke out near Judith Gap under red flag conditions. Meanwhile, smoke pushed into Lewis and Clark County on at least two separate occasions this week, triggering air quality alerts that covered more than two dozen Montana counties. At one point the DEQ alert and the heat advisory were running simultaneously, forcing residents to choose between staying cool with open windows or keeping smoke out. The federal government stepped in Sunday with an emergency order authorizing backup power generators across the region as grid demand spiked. Add in Yellowstone's midday fishing closures due to spiking water temperatures and the picture is clear: fire season didn't ease into 2026. It kicked the door in. For Helena residents, the practical upshot is layered — check air quality before exercising outside, know where cooling centers are, and understand that the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is likely to see restrictions tighten further if conditions hold.
Public Safety
Butte Residents Gather Outside Sen. Sheehy's Office to Memorialize Deaths Linked to Federal Actions
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:48
About a dozen Butte residents gathered outside Sen. Tim Sheehy's local office on July 27 to hold a memorial for more than 60 people they say have died as a result of federal government actions since 2025, including deaths connected to ICE enforcement operations. The group, organized by Indivisible Butte, included two teenagers who joined after passing by the gathering.
Public Safety
Record Heat Expected Saturday; Residents Urged to Prepare
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:48
Helena is heading into one of the hottest weekends of the year, with high temperatures Saturday expected to reach between the mid-90s and low 100s — a range that puts the city in record-possible territory for late in the season. High pressure aloft has kept the heat locked in place through the week, and meteorologists say Saturday afternoon will be the peak before conditions begin to shift.
Public Safety
Fire Weather Watch Covers Helena National Forest Through Weekend
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:46
A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for much of north-central Montana — including the Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest and the Lincoln Ranger District — from Wednesday through Saturday evening, August 2, according to the National Weather Service office in Great Falls. The watch, issued early Wednesday morning, covers a broad swath of the region stretching from the Rocky Mountain Front east through Chouteau and Fergus counties.
Public Safety
Queen Gulch Fire Burns 25 Acres in Jefferson County
1 source · nifc wildfires · 06:46
A wildfire in Jefferson County has burned 25 acres, according to incident reports identifying the fire as the Queen Gulch fire. The cause has not been determined.
Public Safety
Federal Emergency Order Brings Backup Power Online Across Montana as Heat Wave Builds
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order Sunday authorizing the region's primary grid manager to bring backup generators online across 17 states, including Montana and Wyoming, as an approaching heat wave threatens to push electricity demand toward record levels. The order gives grid operators the authority to dispatch generation resources that would not normally be available under standard operating rules — a step federal officials reserve for situations where supply margins are tight enough that outages become a real possibility.
Public Safety
Air Quality Alert Covers Lewis and Clark County Through Tuesday Morning as Smoke and Heat Combine
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:47
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality alert for Lewis and Clark County and more than two dozen surrounding counties, in effect until 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 29. The alert, relayed through the National Weather Service office in Great Falls, covers a broad swath of central and western Montana and is tied to elevated particulate levels — most likely from wildfire smoke — compounding under the same heat system straining the regional electrical grid this week.
Public Safety
Yellowstone Closes Rivers and Streams to Fishing Midday as Water Temperatures Spike
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
Yellowstone National Park announced Wednesday that all rivers and streams inside the park will be closed to fishing from 2 p.m. to sunrise each day, citing dangerously high water temperatures and low stream flows that can kill fish stressed by angling activity. The closures apply park-wide and add to existing restrictions on the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers below Norris campground that have been in place since July 15.
Public Safety
Twin Sisters Fire Breaks Out Near Judith Gap Under Red Flag Conditions
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
A wildfire ignited Saturday afternoon near the Judith Basin and Wheatland County line, prompting aerial resource requests and drawing U.S. Forest Service crews to a landscape already under a Red Flag Warning. The Twin Sisters Fire was first reported shortly before 2 p.m. and had reached 20 acres by the time initial reports came out of Wheatland County Emergency Management.
Public Safety
Smoke Settles Over Helena as Fire Season Intensifies Across Western Montana
2 sources · daily montanan · 06:47
Wildfire smoke pushed into Lewis and Clark County this week as fire activity ramped up across Montana and the broader region, with air quality readings in much of western Montana hitting or exceeding 100 on the Air Quality Index. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality flagged the deteriorating conditions Monday, and the National Weather Service office in Great Falls followed with a formal air quality alert covering Lewis and Clark County.
Public Safety
Park County Homicide Suspect Rearrested After Alleged Release Violation
1 source · ktvh helena · 06:47
A 65-year-old woman charged in connection with a Park County man's death earlier this year was rearrested Monday after Park County authorities say she violated the conditions of her pretrial release. Ann Brooks was taken into custody Monday afternoon on one count of misdemeanor criminal contempt, according to Park County Sheriff Tad Dykstra.
Public Safety
Smoke Prompts Air Quality Alert for Lewis and Clark County Through Sunday Morning
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:48
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality alert for Lewis and Clark County on Saturday, July 26, with the advisory running through 9 a.m. Sunday, July 27. The National Weather Service office in Great Falls relayed the alert at 8:55 a.m. MDT. Eleven Montana counties are covered, stretching from Missoula and Ravalli in the west to Hill, Liberty, Toole, and Pondera in the north.
Public Safety
Heat Advisory in Effect Through Sunday Evening; NWS Warns of Lethal Car Temperatures
1 source · nws weather alerts · 06:46
The National Weather Service office in Great Falls issued a Heat Advisory for portions of central, north central, and southwest Montana beginning Friday night and running through 9 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Helena falls within the advisory area. Forecasters are calling for high temperatures between 90 and 95 degrees, with conditions capable of causing heat-related illness in people who spend extended time outdoors or in unventilated spaces.