Smoke spreads widely from giant fires

Why are the skies so smoky in Western Montana?

This recent satellite photo shows the smoke from a host of large wildfires in Montana and Idaho that have affected air quality.

The fires listed in the photo have covered a total of 566,478 acres.

Individual acreages are:

v Condon Mountain, 4,650 acres.

v Powell SBW Complex, 53,000 acres.

v Sawtooth Fire, 5,829 acres.

v Porcupine Complex, 30,993 acres.

v Mustang Complex, 336,744 acres.

v McGuire Complex, 72,688 acres.

v Wesley Fire, 15,233 acres.

v Sheep Fire, 47,341 acres.

In addition, three other fires — Wall Creek, Wedge Creek and East Fork — in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex have burned a total of 8,263 acres. They are visible to the right of the Condon Mountain Fire.