It’s Not Your Imagination – Smoke Has Hit Great Falls

It's Not Your Imagination - Smoke Has Hit Great Falls

You might have noticed a little difference in the air in Great Falls during the last couple of days.  Don't worry.  It isn't just you.  The air quality is becoming diminished, and current forecasts aren't looking favorable.

via GIPHY

Forest fires have been somewhat spotty this year, with crews being able to extinguish them efficiently and quickly.  But the amount of them and the changing weather may have just caught up to us in Central Montana.

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Less People with Less Air Quality - How Montana Compares to Other States

Despite being the 3rd least populated state in the United States, Montana's ranks at 14th for highest air quality.  Some of the reasons for the lower ranking are in part due to vehicles or even wood burning stoves.

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Another contributing factor according to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is summer wildfire smoke across Big Sky Country.  Those conditions can lead to health problems for certain individuals including "children, people with chronic conditions, older adults, pregnant women, and outdoor workers."

Montana DEQ Reports Diminished Air Quality for Two Cities into Weekend

The Montana Department of Enviromental Quality announced that with a significant increase in wildfire activity in the last 48 hours in Montana, combined with fires in Idaho, air quality has gone down.

Both Columbia Falls and Great Falls, Montana have had air quality conditions lowered to moderate as of Friday August 15, 2025.  As new fires have ignited in the last week, MDEQ stated that:

Warm temperatures and breezy afternoon winds will lead to additional fire growth and increased smoke production on many regional wildfires again on Friday.