Seven weeks into fiscal year, Montana’s $62M firefighting fund is almost empty

HELENA –
Less than two months into Montana’s fiscal year, the state’s $62 million firefighting fund is all but empty, drained by summer wildfire costs and a budget-transfer bill.
Bullock administration officials said the fund could be empty by next week, as fires continue to burn across the state, with no weather relief in sight.
Yet the administration said it will continue its strategy of “aggressive initial attack” on fires, to try to keep small fires from expanding, and find the money elsewhere to fund the ongoing effort.

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