Wind-whipped Montana fires burn structures, spur evacuations
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildfires burning in Montana have exploded in size over a 24-hour period and have triggered evacuations from rural areas.
Scorching heat and heavy winds stoked the blazes.
In the Big Belt Mountains east of Townsend, firefighters pulled back from a fast-moving fire and into safety zones when it became unsafe to fight.
A fire helicopter later crash landed in the heavy winds and caught fire, but only minor injuries were reported for one of the crew.
South of the tourist town of Red Lodge, a fire grew to more than 30 square miles by Wednesday morning and prompted an evacuation order for 450 houses.
