Plumes of smoke can be seen throughout the national forests throughout the spring, as officials use fire as a tool to protect habitat and forestall greater danger during the upcoming fire season.
Recent snowfall has allowed the Missoula Snowgoers to begin grooming the snowmobile trail system in the Lolo Pass area on the Missoula and Powell ranger districts.
Fire Information Officer for Lolo National Forest Boyd Hartwig told KGVO News that a new fire was spotted Thursday afternoon on the Missoula Ranger District.
Montana Senator Steve Daines toured the Frenchtown Face Timber Project on Wednesday, and spoke with area forest stakeholders about the future of federal lands access and the historically extreme fire danger evident in Montana.
Forest officials have closed Kreis Pond on the Ninemile Ranger District to give game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks an opportunity to locate and trap a black bear that has been frequenting the area.