Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has deployed a new aerial supervision program designed to improve coordination between aircraft and ground crews battling active wildfires across the state. The initiative establishes real-time communication infrastructure that functions similarly to air traffic control, enabling supervisors to direct firefighting aircraft and support tactical decisions about resource deployment during major fire incidents.
The program addresses a longstanding operational gap. Historically, Montana fire managers depended on aerial support coordination from neighboring states or federal partners when multiple aircraft operated simultaneously over a single fire. The state now maintains its own in-house capability to manage these operations, tailoring responses to Montana’s specific geographic and seasonal conditions.
Early Deployment and Performance
The aerial supervision team got its first significant test during the Fourth of July weekend, when multiple wildfires erupted near Miles City. The program also responded to the Deer Hollow Fire in the Bitterroot Valley, which threatened structures in the vicinity. Both incidents provided operational validation of the new system under conditions resembling the state’s peak fire season.
Jay Lindgren, who oversees the DNRC’s aviation program, emphasized the safety dimension of the capability. “Our new aerial supervision capability allows us to safely manage multiple aircraft while maintaining close coordination with firefighters on the ground,” he said.
Matt Hall, chief of the DNRC’s fire protection bureau, framed the program as part of a broader effort to strengthen state readiness. “By adding a Montana-based aerial supervision capability, the state is better positioned to provide timely support and protect our communities during periods of high fire activity,” he noted.
Operational Framework
The aerial supervisors operate from a command position, communicating directly with pilot crews and personnel stationed at active fire locations. This arrangement streamlines decision-making about where to position aircraft, how to sequence water or retardant drops, and when to adjust tactics based on changing fire behavior or wind conditions. The program reduces delays that can occur when coordination must route through external state or federal agencies.
The launch reflects Montana’s broader push to enhance state-level firefighting capacity. Wildfire seasons in recent years have grown longer and more intense across the region, creating operational pressures on traditional structures that relied heavily on federal resources or mutual aid agreements with neighboring states.
The DNRC has not announced plans to expand the program’s operational window or personnel, though the successful Fourth of July deployment suggests the state may consider additional investments in aerial coordination capabilities for future fire seasons.
