It’s no secret our state has been ravaged by fires this summer. Over 800,000 acres have burned and it looks like there is no end in sight. But even more astounding than the fires is the outpouring of support from neighbors, friends and strangers to help those devastated by wildfires. Helping hands have come from everywhere to donate money and supplies, help rebuild fences, or just to provide a kind word. With so many willing to help, Northern Ag Network is trying to organize where farmers and ranchers need assistance and what people can do to help.
This page is dedicated to compiling a list of where people can go for help or how those who want to help can have the biggest impact.
As we receive more information about relief efforts, we will continue to update this page. If you have more information, please send us the name and contact information of the person or group that is organizing relief efforts in your community. We are amazed at all of the volunteers who have stepped up, so please help us route help to where it is needed most!
If your community has been affected and you would personally like to help organize relief efforts, please email us here and we can connect you to those who have already organized similar efforts in their communities this year.
Below are links to articles about specific fires and where help is still needed. We will continue to add to this list as more relief efforts are organized.
FIRE SPECIFIC RELIEF EFFORTS:
Lodgepole Fire Complex – Garfield & Petroleum Counties
East Fork Fire – Hill & Blaine Counties
Caribou & Gibralter Ridge Fire – Lincoln County
NON-FIRE SPECIFIC RELIEF EFFORTS:
Those interested in making a cash donation should call the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation at (406) 442-3420. Those interested in donating hay, please contact the Montana Department of Agriculture’s fire and drought assistance hotline at 1-844-515-1571 or check their website http://agr.mt.gov/Fire-Drought-Assistance-2017.
Livestock producers interested in applying for the hay lottery must submit an application at http://agr.mt.gov/Hay-Lottery-2017. Eligible producers must be from a D2, D3 or D4 or fire-affected county and own at least 25 animal unit equivalents of state-specific livestock. The application deadline is September 30, 2017.
Donations may also be sent to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, find out more at their website https://wffoundation.org