EMERGENCY: Montana wildfires overrunning firefighters; Guard in Iraq [View All]

[Bluebear]

ALBERTON, Mont. Three firefighters who hunkered beneath emergency shelters as a Montana wildfire burned over them are safe.
The firefighters are part of a crew battling a fast-moving eight-thousand-acre blaze that's forcing crews to retreat and shutting down a major power line in western Montana.

In Washington state, Governor Christine Gregoire is scheduled to sign an emergency declaration to help fight wildfires in her state. At least a half-dozen large fires are burning. More than 100 cabins have been scorched.

In all, 33 large fires are burning, mostly in Western states.

http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=3711375
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HELENA — The Pentagon has turned a deaf ear to Gov. Brian Schweitzer's request to return more of the state's National Guard members to Montana for the heart of the wildfire season, the governor said Tuesday.

Schweitzer said the Defense Department not only ignored his March plea to reduce the number of Montana Guard soldiers deployed, but has since increased its demand on state units.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, the Army general in charge of National Guard forces, provided information this week showing that 44 percent of Montana's Guard members were mobilized as of July 12. That is the third highest rate in the country; only Hawaii at 50 percent and Idaho at 46 percent have more soldiers activated.

Schweitzer said he's aggravated that Montana's figure is that high four months after his request.

"They're saying, ‘We at the Pentagon don't care what you're thinking in your state. We'll do what we want for as long as we want and you'll get used to it,'" he said. "This is not cooperation. They don't listen to governors at all. This is zero response to governors."

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2005/07/20/montana/a01072005_03.txt