Updated at 6:00 p.m.

A smoky haze lent an orange tint to the skies above western Montana Friday morning, but officials say it's not from local fires and it's not affecting air quality.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte says he’s disappointed not to have been invited to Wednesday’s White House meeting on western wildfires, as a historic heatwave amps up fire conditions.

The National Interagency Fire Center Tuesday bumped the national preparedness level up a notch to its next-to-highest rating.

Crooked Creek Fire

Crooked Creek Fire

06/16/21, 5:15 p.m.

06/16/21, 5:15 p.m.

Researchers are increasingly concerned about the public health impacts of wildfire smoke.

Update 06/15/21 - 11:30 p.m.