HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today issued an executive order to mobilize members of the Montana National Guard to support fire response efforts in the state of Washington.
“As the state of Washington and the City of Spokane face unprecedented wildfires, Montana is joining the nearly two dozen states sending resources to support fire response efforts,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Deploying these resources will not compromise our ability to respond to any current fire activity in Montana and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation remains ready to continue executing an aggressive initial attack on all fire starts.”
“Montanans understand the devastating impact wildfires can have on communities, and we’re proud to support our neighbors in Washington during this critical time,” said Brig. Gen. Trent Gibson, Adjutant General of Montana. “Helping our neighbors in their time of need is simply what Montanans do. Whether here at home or across state lines, we’ll continue to do our part to help communities recover and overcome challenges together.”
The state of Washington is experiencing significant wildfire conditions in many parts of the state. In the City of Spokane, reports estimate that active fires have burned over 10,000 acres, destroyed over 700 structures, and have displaced an estimated 65,000 people. According to Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, resources from over 20 states and 100 jurisdictions are aiding the effort to fight the Spokane fires.
The initial Montana National Guard support package is scheduled to depart for Washington on August 11 and includes one Montana Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook Heavy-lift helicopter, its crew, and one maintainer to total five Soldiers. The CH-47 provides critical heavy-lift capability to support wildfire suppression operations, including the movement of personnel and equipment.
The request for support from the Montana National Guard was sent through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) through which Montana can provide mutual assistance to member states in order to respond to disasters. Through the executive order, the governor can mobilize state resources, including but not limited to the Montana National Guard, under the terms and conditions of EMAC to meet the needs of the requesting state. As mission requirements evolve, the Montana National Guard stands ready to provide additional personnel, aircraft, and capabilities in coordination with the state of Washington through the EMAC while maintaining the ability to respond to emergencies within Montana.
As of August 7, 2026, the state of Montana is experiencing moderate fire activity and has adequate resources to manage current incidents. The executive order states that if a situation were to arise within Montana where deployed resources are needed, the governor has the right to recall those deployed resources to manage such incidents.
The governor’s executive order can be viewed here.
Source: Governor’s Office
Photo: Pixabay
Montana's outdoor week, in your inbox at 7am Friday.