Her house and about a dozen others burned Sunday when fires blew up south of Darby. Forest Service officials promised an investigation. Other fires in Montana include two in the Boulder Hill area, south of Helena, that have forced hundreds of evacuations. Scores of small, new fires were reported Friday as a result of lightning strikes from passing thunderstorms the night before. Firefighters from throughout the United and Canada have joined efforts in the West.
Military troops are on fire duty, and retired fire managers have been asked to return.
Seventy-nine firefighters from Australia and New Zealand were to join Idaho crews this weekend. In Montana, an estimated 1,800 student firefighters, including National Guard members and volunteers, were told Friday they could report for fall classes three weeks late if they stay on fire lines. Classes are scheduled to start Sept. 5 at the University of Montana, but student firefighters will have until Sept. 25 to register, officials said. Renewed firefighting efforts have yielded signs of progress. Fire managers in New Mexico and Oregon reported all major fires contained on Friday.