Northwestern Energy Uses 95 Weather Stations to Prevent Wildfires in Montana

Northwestern Energy monitors 38,000 power line segments to prevent wildfires in Montana.

The utility has implemented a Fire Mitigation Program that uses weather stations, smoke cameras, and vegetation management to reduce fire risks along its extensive power grid. This approach addresses structural challenges posed by increasing populations in Wildland Urban Interface areas and the threat of catastrophic fires.

Northwestern Energy operates 18,000 miles of overhead lines monitored by 95 weather stations providing real-time data on wind, temperature, and humidity. Smoke cameras are watched around the clock, with footage shared among agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and DNRC. Vegetation removal and grid hardening complement monitoring efforts, while power segments can be de-energized as a last resort—though this action has never been necessary, according to Vice President of Operations Jason Merkel. Data collected this season will help build a database to improve future decision-making.

Looking ahead, ongoing monitoring and vegetation management remain priorities as the program evolves.

Montana’s vast landscapes and wildfire-prone environment make such extensive, technology-driven monitoring critical. This model could serve as a benchmark for utilities in similar Western states where dispersed rural populations and rugged terrain increase wildfire risks and complicate infrastructure management.

Weather stations, cameras and real-time data: NorthWestern Energy’s fire prevention arsenal
By Chet Layman, KPAX News