He said funds would also be provided for projects in the state that reduced future disaster risks. More than 11,000 firefighters, including military personnel, are manning fire lines in Montana, supported by 140 aircraft. Rocky Mountains tourism has been hit because 30 of the state's 56 counties have been put under restrictions. Weather changes On Wednesday, there were cooler temperatures close to freezing in some areas of Montana, relatively light wind and forecasts of rain. Scant rainfall has left woodlands and forest floors tinder-dry and particularly vulnerable to lightning.
New fires continue to break out.
With more than a month of the dry season still left, President Clinton ordered an extra 2,000 government workers to help fight the blazes last weekend. Altogether the Americans have enlisted the help of 25,000 people including fire crews from as far away as Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Fourteen firefighters have been killed.