ELMO, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today surveyed the Elmo Fire and received a briefing from incident command.

“At more than 21,000 acres, the Elmo Fire is the most significant fire Montana has faced this year and the top priority fire in the state,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I’m encouraged by the optimism of incident command as we head into the weekend, and am grateful to the over 500 personnel responding to protect lives and property.”

The Elmo Fire, which started July 29, has burned over 20,000 acres. Evacuation orders and warnings as well as closures are in place for many areas near the fire. The source of the fire has been ruled human caused and investigations continue.

“Preventing human-caused wildfire is the best way to protect the public and allow our firefighters to focus on wildfires caused by natural ignitions,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Please follow local fire restrictions, prepare your homes and communities for wildfire, and recreate safely outside.”

According to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, fire activity in Montana increased significantly last week. Most of those fires were human caused, including the Elmo Fire.

With fire danger on the rise, the governor joins the state’s fire management professionals in urging Montanans to prepare for and prevent wildfire:

-Never leave a campfire unattended and put the fire out cold when you are done – if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
-Secure any chains or dragging parts to your vehicle, avoid driving off-road, and don’t park in dry grass.
-Spark arrestors are required on ALL portable, gasoline-powered equipment, including motorcycles and ATVs.
-Do not operate lawn or farm equipment in hot, dry and windy conditions, and be prepared with an extinguisher, water, shovels and extra people to help extinguish a fire if one starts.
-Remove leaves, debris, and flammable material from around your home.
-Create and practice an evacuation plan with your family. Prepare an emergency “Go Kit” and plan at least two evacuation routes.

To learn more about fire conditions and restrictions in your area, as well as home and evacuation preparedness, visit www.MTFireInfo.org.