Smoke spreads over Central Montana as wildfire grows
The South Moccasin Fire is only one of dozens of blazes in the West that firefighters are working to contain.
![]()
Image 1 of 4The South Moccasin Fire burned nearly 12,000 acres near Lewistown, MT as of Wednesday. (KFBB)
![]()
Image 2 of 4The South Moccasin Fire burned nearly 12,000 acres near Lewistown, MT as of Wednesday. (KFBB)
![]()
Image 3 of 4The South Moccasin Fire burned nearly 12,000 acres near Lewistown, MT as of Wednesday. (KFBB)
![]()
Image 4 of 4The South Moccasin Fire burned nearly 12,000 acres near Lewistown, MT as of Wednesday. (KFBB)
LEWISTOWN, MT- The South Moccasin Fire has consumed nearly 13,000 acres as firefighters work to gain the upper hand on the blaze in central Montana.
Officials report the fire is burning near Lewiston, MT, which is about 100 miles to the northwest of Billings.
At last report, a combination of ground and aircrews had the fire around 45% contained.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Officials with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation told Fox affiliate KFFB that they are also dealing with staffing shortages at volunteer fire departments.
The South Moccasin Fire is only one of dozens of blazes in the West that firefighters are working to contain.
Nearly the entire Western U.S. is dealing with drought conditions .
(National Drought Mitigation Center)
Many areas in the West are dealing with significant drought issues, which only aide in the increasing the fire level risk.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that more than 98 percent of the West is in some sort of drought.
Winds out of the south and west are helping to drive most of the smoke from the wildfires into Canada.
Several western fires are producing smoke that is being blown into Canada.
(Airnow.gov)