Fires / Crashes

Missoulian: New fires on Flathead Reservation bring concern about crewshortage

Montana Fire Information

Fire Update Tuesday August 21 8am

Incident: Highway 87 Wildfire

"Firefighters made progress on the Highway 87 fire overnight, thanks to cooler weather and increased humidity, which moderated the fire behavior. However, today's weather forecast is conducive to active burning for heavy fuels on both sides of Old Highway 87 west of Prior Road. As a result of fire activity, intermittent closure or delayed travel along the highway should be expected.

Firefighters from Crow Agency, the Montana DNRC, and many local fire departments worked together through the night and will continue suppression efforts today.

A bevy of aircraft will be available, including heavy air tankers, single-engine air tankers and helicopters. Additionally, a 20-person crew and numerous engines are assigned to the Highway 87 Fire.

The investigation into the cause of the blaze continues. The Highway 87 Fire is estimated at 2000 acres. No injuries have been reported."

Helena Independent Record:  August the deadliest month for crashes

Montana Highway Patrol  Annual Reports

Traffic Safety Performance (Core Outcome) Measures* ForMontana 

DUI / Immunization

Missoulian: Fatal drunken crashes on rise so far this yearin Montana

Traffic Safety Problem Identification

Statistics on DUI start on page 39.

Missoulian: Montana ranked worst in nation for immunizations 

Estimated Vaccination Coverage* withIndividual Vaccines and Selected Vaccination Series

Montana Hospitals / Fires

Missoulian: Montana hospitals increase charity care; somereporting questioned

Montana’s Hospitals: Issues and facts related to thecharitable purposes of our hospitals and the protection of Montana’s consumers

“Charity care applications have increased substantially. In the three years from 2008 to 2010, the

number of applications for charity care received by the study hospitals increased dramatically,

from 27,200 in 2008; to 41,600 in 2009; and to 46,800 in 2010. This is likely related to both

increased need and awareness, since the economic downturn associated with the Great Recession

of 2008 coincided with efforts by Montana hospitals to improve access to their charity policies

and application forms online. Over this same three-year period, the overall approval rate for

charity applications declined from 93% in 2008 to 90% in 2010.”

Missoulian: Condon Mountain fire crews brace forhigh temperatures

Montana Fire Information

Countrywide VIP loan/ Fires

Missoulian: House members' VIP loans excluded from subpoena 

How Countrywide Used its VIP Loan Program To InfluenceWashington Policymakers
“Between January 1996 and June 2008, Countrywide’s VIP loan unit made hundreds of loans to current and former Members of Congress, congressional staff, high ranking government officials, and executives and employees of Fannie Mae, including  Chairmen James “Jim” Johnson, Franklin Raines, and Daniel Mudd. VIPs who worked at Fannie Mae enjoyed expedited loan processing and pricing discounts. Countrywide also waived company guidelines for Fannie Mae’s senior executives to a greater extent than it did for “regular” VIPs.”

See a listing and status update for the many active wildfires in Montana  and Idaho.

Immigration/ Montana Fires

Missoulian: US government launches new immigration program

Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood ArrivalsProcess

“Over the past three years, this Administration has undertaken an unprecedented effort to transform the immigration enforcement system into one that focuses on public safety, border security and the integrity of the immigration system. As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to focus its enforcement resources on the removal of individuals who pose a danger to national security or a risk to public safety, including individuals convicted of crimes with particular emphasis on violent criminals, felons, and repeat offenders, DHS will exercise prosecutorial discretion as appropriate to ensure that enforcement resources are not expended on low priority cases, such as individuals who came to the United States as children and meet other key guidelines.”

Missoulian: 15 evacuated from homes as wildfire explodeswest of Polson 

 

Montana Fire Information

Sacred Sites / Fire

Missoulian: Indian leaders share concerns about sacred sites

The Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs to Hold Listening Sessions on Sacred Sites in Indian Country

“The first of five in a series of listening sessions will begin Monday, August 13, 2012. The Obama Administration recognizes that the protection of sacred sites on federal lands is integral to traditional religious practices, tribal identities and emblematic of sovereign tribal nations. These sacred site listening sessions are intended to assist in developing policies that result in effective, comprehensive and long-lasting federal protection of, and tribal access to, the places that are so important to the fabric and culture of tribal nations.”

Missoulian: Red flag warning in effect for Lolo, Bitterroot national forests

Montana Fire Information 

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THISEVENING FOR LOW HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES

Montana Fires

Missoulian:Fire evacuation order lifted in central Montana

Montana Fire Information