Skies darken as smoke pours in from Northwest fires

Libby, Seeley Lake, Missoula, Helena, Bozeman, and Hamilton are all at moderate cumulative air quality. Hourly concentrations in Lewistown have reached moderate levels as smoke makes its way east. Conditions in Butte have improved in the evening.

   The source of this smoke continues to be outside of Montana in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The Buzzard Complex fire in Oregon, currently the largest of the fires to the west, began on Monday and is already 180,000 acres. There are currently 27 uncontained large fires between Oregon, Idaho, and Washington as firefighters battle hot, windy conditions and dry fuels.

   The Montana DEQ provided the update.