By Tom Lutey
Independent Record
BILLINGS -- Montana is bracing for its worst wildfire season in years, officials told U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.
Speaking to Daines during a fire briefing in Billings, federal and state agencies said that extremely early snowmelt in western Montana and increasing thunderstorms in the east are setting the state up for a tough wildfire season.
Western wildfire conditions are as bad as they’ve been in years. Eastern Montana, still green from spring rains, is now beginning to dry out with thunderstorms expected to deliver more lightning than soaking rain in coming weeks.
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