A state of emergency exists in Montana because of the drought, and officials are taking action to provide resources to assist those impacted and dealing with it.
Governor Greg Gianforte issued an executive order declaring a statewide wildland fire emergency in Montana on July 14, saying, “Montana faces critical fire conditions that pose significant threats to our communities, infrastructure, first responders, and way of life, issuing an executive order ensures that emergency responders have the suppression resources, supplies, and fuel they need to safely and aggressively respond.”
Following requests from the Governor, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester, and U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized the use of some Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for emergency haying and grazing.
Because of the dry conditions, “Montana ranchers are in dire need of forage for their herds,” Gov. Gianforte said. “USDA’s decision to allow for emergency haying and grazing on some CRP acres will greatly benefit our farmers and ranchers, and I urge them to go a step further and open up all of Montana’s participating CRP acreage to Montana ag producers.”
As of July 14, nearly 1,400 wildland fires have burned over 141,000 acres in Montana. Of these fires approximately 78 percent have been human caused, adding a significant workload to volunteer and agency wildland firefighters.
“I’m urging all Montanans and visitors to our state to do their part. Follow local fire restrictions, prepare your homes and communities for wildfire, and recreate and work safely to ensure you’re not adding to our wildland firefighters’ workload by inadvertently starting a wildfire. Our dedicated, courageous first responders are depending on us all,” the governor continued.
The governor’s executive order authorizes the activation of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). EMAC is a nationally adopted mutual aid agreement that allows states to share resources with one another during times of emergency or disaster.
The hot and abnormally dry conditions are expected to continue through August, and new wildland fire starts are likely throughout much of the state.
Following his disaster declaration, Gov. Gianforte urged USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to declare all counties throughout the state of Montana as primary natural disaster areas and allow for emergency haying and grazing on all of Montana’s participating CRP acreage.
