National Guard to help with Montana wildfires

MISSOULA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock ordered two Montana Army National Guard helicopter teams and 18 checkpoint teams to join firefighting efforts on the Lolo Creek Complex west of Lolo.

A total of nearly 110 Guardsmen are expected to be on duty by Thursday morning.

The UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter teams will be stationed at the Montana Department of Natural Resources state land office in Missoula, while the checkpoint teams will report to their locations at 8 a.m. Thursday.

The soldiers will be placed on active duty for up to 15 days.

The lightning-caused fires grew from a combined 70 acres on Monda