Flathead OES

05/19/2026

Today, members of the Montana 83rd Civil Support Team and Kalispell Fire Department are training at the Flathead County Fairgrounds as part of a coordinated emergency response exercise.

These training events strengthen interagency communication, improve operational readiness, and ensure our teams are prepared to respond quickly and effectively when our community needs us most.

Thank you to all participating personnel for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to public safety.

04/19/2026

Per Flathead County Sheriff's Office

Incident in the Hwy 209/Ferndale Drive area

The scene is now clear. The suspicious device was evaluated and determined not contain any threat or dangerous material. Thank you for your patience.

Send a message to learn more

04/18/2026

Shelter In Place. Explosive Device in area Hwy 209 and Ferndale Drive Bigfork.
Explosive device reported in the area of Hwy 209 and Ferndale Drive. SHELTER IN PLACE now. Stay indoors, away from windows and doors. Do NOT approach the area. Additional Information will be provided by Law Enforcement

04/03/2026

Join DNRC and partners in celebrating Mike West, recipient of the 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Award. This is the nation’s highest honor in the field of wildfire preparedness and recognizes West’s extraordinary leadership in protecting Montana communities.

As Fire Prevention and Mitigation Specialist for the Flathead National Forest in Kalispell, West helps lead FireSafe Flathead, a multi-agency collaborative dedicated to creating and supporting fire-adapted communities in the Flathead area and beyond.

Among an impressive list of successes through his work with FireSafe Flathead, Mike was pivotal in securing a $10 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant. This grant serves qualifying communities adjacent to Glacier National Park through a project that will treat 3,523 acres with direct benefit to 80,000 nearby landowners over the next five years. The grant is supported by Montana DNRC, The Forest Service - Flathead National Forest, Flathead County MT, Montana West Economic Development - MWED, and Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc.

“Mike is a force multiplier in our Montana community and beyond, and I am proud to support his nomination for the Wildfire Mitigation Award,” said Shawn Thomas, State Forester with DNRC.

Mike previously served with DNRC as a Fire Cache “speedy” and engine crew member from 1997-2002 and has remained a steadfast partner in our work ever since. Thank you, Mike, for being a role model partner and for your work in making Flathead forests and communities more wildfire resilient!

➡ To read more about Mike, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/newsroom/releases/flatheads-mike-west-recognized-wildfire-mitigation

03/11/2026

Open Burning is currently prohibited across the entire county due to forecasted High Wind Event.

Conditions will be revaluated Friday, March 13th for the weekend.

03/11/2026

⚠️ Weather Alert for Flathead County ⚠️

Multiple Advisories, Watches, and Warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service for Flathead County.

Residents should expect weather conditions to begin deteriorating this afternoon, with snow and increasing winds overnight. Forecasts indicate wind gusts greater than 50 mph, with gusts exceeding 70 mph possible tomorrow in higher terrain and along the Continental Divide.

These conditions may lead to difficult travel, reduced visibility, and potential power outages. Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items and use caution when traveling.

For the most current weather information and updates, please visit:
https://www.weather.gov/mso

Stay safe and continue to monitor local forecasts.

03/10/2026

Heads up, western Montana! 🌬️ Damaging west winds are looking possible from Wednesday night through Thursday. We're forecasting gusts of 50-70 mph across our primary area of concern.

The mountains have an 80% chance of experiencing gusts exceeding 70 mph. In the valleys, there is a 40-70% chance of gusts over 50 mph. Even though the chance of 70 mph winds in the valleys is lower, the potential damage if they do occur is severe enough that you should prepare now.

Primary threats include falling trees and branches, potential power outages, dangerous travel for high-profile vehicles, and blizzard conditions in the backcountry. Please take time to secure loose outdoor items, avoid parking under large trees, and charge your devices in case of power loss.

02/17/2026

For more information please visit https://www.flatheadavalanche.org/

12/18/2025

🌬️ Wind Event Update – Flathead County 🌬️

Wednesday’s high winds (December 17) were widespread across the county, and impacts such as power outages and downed trees are still being addressed.

🔌 For the most up-to-date power outage information, please visit Flathead Electric Cooperative’s outage center:
https://www.flatheadelectric.com/outages-safety/outage-center/

⚠️ Any additional wind events could slow or compound restoration efforts from earlier impacts. For the most in-depth wind and weather forecasts, follow the National Weather Service at:
https://www.weather.gov/

📣 Flathead County will continue sharing updates through our official channels and social media platforms as information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and for staying informed.

12/12/2025