Update 06/15/21 6:10 p.m. This is a developing story, this post will be updated as we get more information. The Robertson Draw Fire burning south of Red Lodge in the Custer Gallatin National Forest is seeing increased fire activity this afternoon as temperatures approach record highs. The fire was estimated at 2,000 acres as of this morning. Evacuation orders are back in place for an unknown number of homes in the Gold Creek, Ruby Creek, North Grove Creek and South Grove Creek drainages.

Update 06/14/21 6 p.m. Crews are in the early phases of fighting a 174-acre wildfire in the Big Belt Mountains southeast of Helena. The fire temporarily shut down a stretch of Highway 12 in Broadwater County Sunday.

The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for two drainages south of Red Lodge due to the Robertson Draw Fire. Custer Gallatin National Forest officials say the fire is very active and burning an estimated 200 acres in timber.

Residents in fewer than a dozen rural homes on Milligan Canyon Road in Jefferson County have been warned they may need to evacuate if the Willow Creek Fire makes a run. The 500 acre Willow Creek Fire is burning southwest of Three Forks, between Highway 2 and Interstate 90, east of the Lewis and Clark Caverns and west of Willow Creek.

Fire experts say the potential for significant wildland fires west of the Divide is normal for now but will grow and spread into tinder-dry eastern Montana later this summer, according to the Northern Rockies fire season outlook released this week.

A volunteer fire department northeast of Helena continues to respond to a six- to eight-acre wildland fire that burned a house, outbuildings and dry grass Friday.

Montana fire officials are grateful for this weekend’s cool, and in some cases, wet weather, but they say much more of it is needed to mitigate the state’s deepening drought crisis.

Firefighters are conducting prescribed burns on both the Lolo and Lewis & Clark National Forests. Area residents may notice the smoke.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office Monday released this year’s state Water and Supply and Drought Outlook report. Over 60 percent of Montana is facing drought conditions.

Three Montana counties: Lewis & Clark, Ravalli and Lincoln, rank nationally among the 25 counties most polluted by short-term or year-round particle air pollution. That’s according to a new American Lung Association report that says wildfires are the main culprit