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.