BLM officials in Montana worried about continued fire danger

The Bureau of Land Management’s Billings-based firefighting staff is nervous.

“We have conditions that are at all-time extremes in southeast Montana,” said Ken Schmid, state fire management officer for the BLM in Montana and the Dakotas. “Our drought indicators and weather statistics are showing that our fuels are as dry as they can get. We just want to make sure all outdoor recreationists are extremely cautious.”

The BLM is particularly concerned that with the state’s popular hunting seasons opening in October — such as the antelope, deer and elk rifle seasons — outdoorsmen and women take every precaution.

Although acknowledging that hunter-caused fires are few compared to other causes, Mike Dannenberg, BLM fire mitigation and education specialist, said the agency wants to do whatever it can to prevent fire starts.