Firefighters Who Aided in Battling Montana Blazes Begin Returning Home
HELENA, Mont. — Firefighters are leaving Montana by the planeload as demobilization begins for the worst fire season in decades.
At least 300 firefighters have returned to their homes in the southeastern and southwestern United States, and more were expected to head to other fires across the country by the end of the week.
“The pendulum has now swung the other way,” said Bill Cowin, incident commander for a fire camp that has been set up in Missoula, Mont., to handle demobilization.
As of Wednesday, 86 large fires were burning on 1.6 million acres in Arkansas, California, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming and Texas, authorities said.
Nearly 10,000 firefighters are in Montana battling the state’s 24 largest fires on 645,289 acres. Cooler temperatures and rain have lessened the threat of more fires.
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