Associated Press
BILLINGS â Extreme heat broke decades-old records as it descended Monday on parts of the northern Rocky Mountains, elevating the dangers posed by dozens of wildfires burning across a region parched by drought and blanketed with dangerous smoke.
Along the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana, the small city of Columbus reached a scorching 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 Celsius). The temperature in Billings, Montana s largest city, hit 106 F (41 C), topping a record set 61 years ago.
Authorities braced for new fires to ignite and existing ones to grow as the National Weather Service said the heat would linger through Thursday.
Such extreme conditions can result from a combination of unusual, short-term natural weather patterns, heightened by long-term, human-caused climate change. Scientists have long warned that the weather will get wilder as the world warms. Climate change has made the U.S. West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years, but it rema
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Injured Red Lodge firefighter in serious condition in Utah hospital
Wildfire activity explodes across southcentral Montana
By: MTN News
and last updated 2021-07-17 19:53:27-04
The Red Lodge firefighter injured Friday fighting the Harris Hill fire north of Joliet has been identified as Dan Steffensen, a veteran volunteer who has fought wildfires across the western states, according to Red Lodge Fire Rescue.
Steffensen was in a two-person crew with another Red Lodge firefighter, Scott Wilson, when the wind shifted suddenly toward them, according to a Red Lodge Fire release.
Steffensen was overrun by the fire, but Wilson managed to escape, informed the incident commander and get Steffensen to emergency medical care.
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The firefighter injured Friday on the Harris Fire near Joliet has been identified as Dan Steffensen.
According to Red Lodge Fire, Dan has been a firefighter with them since 2015.
âIn 2017 Dan was selected as volunteer âFirefighter of the Yearâ and works on the fuel mitigation/Initial Attack crew where in the summers he works to reduce hazardous fuels around homes and responds to emerging wildland fires,â Red Lodge Fire said in a release. âHe is a nationally qualified wildland firefighter and has fought fires in Montana, Oregon, California and other western states as an engine boss and tender operator.â
The other Red Lodge firefighter on the two-person crew was identified as Scott Wilson.
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