Tamarack Fire spreads to Nevada; Western wildfires lead to poor air quality across the US Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
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A large wildfire in Northern California spread into Nevada late Wednesday, leading to new evacuations, while crews battling the nation s largest fire in Oregon were aided by better weather.
Smoke from wildfires in the West continued to spread Thursday, bringing hazy skies and poor air quality to many locations.
More than 1,200 firefighters battled the Tamarack Fire near Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada on Thursday. The fire has burned more than 68 square miles of national forest.
A request for evacuations was issued for portions of Douglas County, Nevada, as the fire spread across the state line. An evacuation center was set up at a community center in Gardnerville, Nevada.
National Guard called up to help battle Montana wildfires
MTN
and last updated 2021-07-22 17:13:35-04
BILLINGS - Two Montana National Guard helicopter units will be assigned to help fight wildfires in the state, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Thursday.
The guard units, which include 24 soldiers, will be put on active duty for 15 days, with one unit based in Billings and the other in Helena.
âThese Montana National Guard soldiers are well-trained and well-prepared for this mobilization, Gianforte said in a press release. On behalf of a grateful state, I want to thank these soldiers for joining our courageous firefighters and first responders on the frontlines in our stateâs wildfire response.â
New restrictions on building a campfire or smoking on public lands start Monday across new portions of northwestern Montana.
The Stage II fire restrictions will take effect as the state faces a severe drought, continued forecast for hot, dry weather and firefighting resources stretched thin across the western U.S.
Beth Pargman is with the Flathead National Forest:
“It’s important for folks recreating on public lands to do their part. Each year, 70-80 percent of wildfires are human-caused, and anything that we can have the public’s help in doing to prevent those human starts is greatly appreciated.”
Earlier this month Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a wildland fire state of emergency in Montana. In that announcement, Gianforte said about 78 percent of the wildfires that had burned over 141,000 acres in the state at that time were human-caused.
Stage II Fire Restrictions to begin across NW Montana
Dennis Bragg photo
By: MTN News
and last updated 2021-07-22 18:40:41-04
KALISPELL â The wildfire danger level is set to rise once again across northwest Montana.
Stage II Fire Restrictions will go begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 26 across the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sites, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Kalispell, Stillwater, and Swan Units, and Flathead County.
Interagency fire managers note the goal of the higher fire restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger.