25 Homes, Four Grain Elevators, Bridges Destroyed By Wildfires In And Around Denton MT

[hatrack]

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High winds gusting up to 60 mph tore through Denton, Montana, US, on Dec. 1, spreading a large wildfire that burned through the town and destroyed many homes and structures, including four grain elevators.

“Yesterday high winds pushed the fire from Judith Basin County into our small town of Denton taking with it around 25 structures to include grain elevators and bridges,” the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office said on Dec. 1. “Rural fire agencies are continuing work to prevent any further fire spread or damage. This work will continue for several more days.”

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https://www.world-grain.com/articles/16185-wildfire-destroys-several-grain-elevators-in-montana

High winds, months of drought and record temperatures fueled wildfires in central Montana this week that burned thousands of acres. Dozens of homes, grain elevators and bridges have been lost. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar talked to some of those impacted by the fires.

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Montana saw the first of its major wildfires of 2021 in June. It’s very rare for major fires to occur in December. But the potential for significant wildland fires continues. A outlook published by the National Interagency Fire Center says more than 90 percent of the U.S. West is in drought, and a large swath of Montana faces above average fire potential for the rest of the month.

A fire ecologist says says wildfires tearing through Montana communities in December is not normal. Phil Higuera says this late-season fire is a byproduct of several unique factors. But the University of Montana professor of fire ecology says wildfires are now starting more easily and rapidly spreading after ignition. He says a combination of things are making it possible.

"Much of the area in central Montana is, and has been in exceptional drought for multiple months now.” Higuera says drought combined with powerful wind and human-caused ignitions are a recipe for wildfire disaster. He adds it’s a pattern scientists are seeing more frequently as the climate warms and dries.

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https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2021-12-03/december-wildfires-leave-destruction-and-trauma-in-their-wake

[cilla4progress]

1. Horrifying.

Those poor residents. I'm sure they never thought they would see this - a wildfire in December take their homes!

I'm so sad about this.

[Pobeka]

2. I'll bet 90% of those folks have voted for climate denial GOPer's for decades too.

The chickens are coming home to roost, as they say...

I feel sorry for the folks who voted rationally over the years, which is sadly a small minority in many of these rural red areas.

[hatrack]

3. Fergus County MT voting history: 2020: Trump 75%, Biden 23%, Jorgensen 2%

2016: Trump 73%, Clinton 21%, Johnson 5%

So in four years, they didn't learn a fucking thing - even more of them voted for Shitstain.