Record warmth recorded yesterday; fire near Denton 14,000 acres

The region broke another record high temperature for Dec.1.

The Glacier Park International Airport recorded a high of 62 degrees, breaking the previous record of 54 set in 1925.

In Hungry Horse, a record was broken as well. The high there was 55 at the dam, breaking the previous record of 48 set in 2008.

Hungry Horse Dam, however, only has records going back to 1947.

The warmth and dry winds continue to spark large fires east of here.

In Denton, about 40 miles northwest of Lewistown, an estimated 25 structures have been lost and the town evacuated due to a large wildfire. The structures included a grain elevator and trestle bridge, according to the Lewistown-News Argus.

There were no lives lost.

Areas east of Browning are also seeing large fires and a fire in the Gibson Flats area near Great falls also saw a large fire.

At Gibson Flats, Great Falls Fire Chief Jeremy Jones said the 120 acre fire started as a grass fire, Montana Public Radio reported.

Jones says 11 homes, seven garages and 11 outbuildings have been destroyed.

In Denton, the West Wind Fire was more than 10,000 acres. The cause was still under investigation, according to Inciweb.org, but local officials said the cause appeared to be from downed power lines due to the wind. The fire was originally listed at 14,000 acres, but had since been adjusted Friday. Highway 81 near town was closed because a bridge had burned.

The town of Blackfoot on the Blackfeet Reservation was evacuated Dec.1 but the fire has since been contained.

Strong winds pushed flames in the east, some reaching hurricane force.

That fire was about 500 acres.

The grass is also very dry, so the fires were able to spread rapidly.

The weather should help a bit in the coming days, with a chance of snow in the forecast. That area of the state is under a severe drought, making it primed for fire.