Montana’s 2024 summer saw its first significant wildfire on Thursday, blazing intensely and rapidly.
Residents northeast of Helena were under evacuation orders as the Horse Gulch fire swept through the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The weather forecast in the following days was concerning, with smoke growing denser and more troublesome. Our team at the Helena Independent
Record had been covering the fire for over two days, from the initial report by Phil Drake on Tuesday to the on-site coverage by Thom Bridge following a fatal firefighting aircraft crash on Hauser Lake on Wednesday, led by Sonny Tapia and Christine Compton. The situation was escalating: the Horse Gulch fire was now a pressing matter of public safety.
During times of risk to lives and property, reliable information from reputable sources is essential. Our professionally trained journalists are dedicated to providing timely and accurate updates, especially in high-stakes scenarios, to keep you informed. This type of reporting is invaluable.
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That’s why, around 3 PM on Thursday, we removed the paywall on our daily coverage of the Horse Gulch fire. Our subsequent stories on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as the fire expanded beyond 20 square miles, were also accessible to both subscribers and non-subscribers.
The safety of our communities and neighbors is paramount when dealing with potentially life-altering news. It’s not about having a subscription; it’s about keeping everyone informed.
There will likely be more wildfires in Montana this year, and our team of over 50 journalists across the state will be on the ground and on the phones, ensuring you know what’s happening and how you can assist.
If another wildfire poses an immediate threat to public safety, we want to share all the information we have. The reporting will be freely available: spread the word, stay informed, and stay safe. Knowledge is power for all of us.
This is why supporting local journalism through a subscription holds value beyond the monthly fee. In a landscape plagued by local news deserts, we are fortunate to serve the community in Montana.
While we may occasionally move stories in front of the paywall, we operate like any other local business. Just as you pay for groceries or a meal at a restaurant, supporting local journalism ensures the work continues.
Quality reporting, like Christina MacIntosh’s piece on prison visitation complexities in Billings or Rob Chaney’s coverage of the Montana Supreme Court hearings, is made possible by our dedicated journalists.
Whether it’s business updates from David Erickson and Lillian Palmer, entertainment news from Jake Iverson and Cory Walsh, or in-depth reporting by journalists like Duncan Adams, Jessica Abell, and the Capitol Bureau crew, we strive to keep you informed and engaged.
Our mission is to serve you every day, providing valuable insights and information. Your feedback is essential, so let’s keep the conversation going. We’re all in this together, Montana.
Steve Kiggins is a local news director for Lee Enterprises, and executive editor of The Missoulian and for Lee Montana. Email him at steve. kiggins@lee.net. Follow him on X @scoopskiggy.
