Wheatland Co. Emergency Management - DES

04/27/2026

With many locations having received snow overnight and temperatures currently below freezing, slick roads may pose an issue for the morning commute. Slow down and use extra caution.

04/21/2026

🔥 Elevated Grass Fire Concerns – Wednesday 🔥

Conditions across Central Montana are lining up for rapid fire spread:

• Temperatures in the 70s to upper 80s
• Relative humidity as low as 10–25%
• Wind gusts 20–40 mph, with 40–55 mph possible west of Billings

It doesn’t take much—one spark can turn into a fast-moving grass fire under these conditions.

🚫 Avoid outdoor burning
🚫 Be cautious with anything that could create a spark (trailers, equipment, chains, etc.)
🚫 Check and double-check anything hot before leaving it unattended

If you see smoke or fire, report it immediately.

Let’s all do our part to keep our communities, land, and responders safe.

04/16/2026

Before the lights, before the sirens,
before a deputy rolls or an ambulance leaves the bay—
there’s a voice in a quiet room
holding everything together.

No spotlight finds them,
no headlines carry their name,
but every call begins
with the calm they create.

They’re the ones who make the pagers ring—
that sharp tone in the night
that sends volunteers out the door,
boots half on, to the station they race.

Cattle on the roadway at midnight.
A cardiac arrest fifty miles from town.
A search and rescue that stretches into the next day.
A wreck on a highway the wind is trying to shut down.

It all starts with them.

Two counties.
Six agencies.
911, admin lines, a jail, paperwork—
all running through one headset,
one screen,
one person.

No backup in the room.
No one to hand it off to.
Just call after call,
radio traffic stacking up,
and no room for mistakes.

Holidays don’t matter here.
Christmas morning still rings.
Thanksgiving still tones out.
Long shifts get longer
while the rest of the world goes home.

And still—
they answer.

They talk someone through their worst moment,
send help down roads that don’t always stay open,
keep track of units spread across miles of nothing,
and somehow keep it all straight.

It’s pressure most people will never understand.
Responsibility that doesn’t clock out.
And yet—
it’s a job that gives back in a way nothing else does.

Because they know something most never will:

Help doesn’t just show up out here.
It’s built, piece by piece,
voice by voice—
and it starts on the other end of the line.

So this week—
to the ones behind the headset,
holding the line for all of us—

thank you.

Sincerely,
Director Nelson

04/15/2026

From the Wheatland County Road Supervisor:

Red Bridge road will be closed from the intersection of South River rd, Five mile loop rd. south to Mansure rd. starting at 9:00 am 4/15/26. Fergus Electric will have power lines down across the road. This should only take a few hours. If you need to get to the southern end of Red Bridge road. You can take South River road, Foster road and Mansure road to detour their project. They should have the road opened back up this afternoon. Please plan accordingly to allow extra time for the detour. Thank you.

04/14/2026

Monthly Test

The Wheatland/Golden Valley County Emergency Alert monthly test has been sent out. If you are signed up for emergency alerts and did not receive a message or phone call, please contact the Wheatland County Office of Emergency Management / DES at 406-940-5750 during regular business hours.

04/06/2026

When conditions look like this, a simple burn today can turn into tomorrow’s wildfire.

With strong winds forecasted, even a controlled burn or small debris pile can escape quickly and become impossible to contain. Gusts like we’re expecting can carry embers long distances, starting new fires before you even realize there’s a problem.

If you’re planning to burn — don’t.

Take a day, wait for better conditions, and help us prevent avoidable calls, responses, and potential damage across the county.

A little patience today can prevent a big problem tomorrow.

04/06/2026

04/05/2026

0445: Wheatland County Crews have cleared the scene. Judith Basin and Fergus County crews remain on scene. 

0428: Wheatland County Sheriffs Office, Wheatland County Fire and Wheatland County EMS are working a mutual aid scene at mile marker 25 US Highway 191 N. with Judith Basin & Fergus County. Expect significant traffic delays and avoid traveling the area if possible.

04/01/2026

Exciting things happening for local law enforcement!

03/30/2026

Currently, all roads in Wheatland County are listed as wet; however, temperatures are dropping and visibility is deteriorating due to snowfall. As we enter the early evening hours, please watch for changing roadway conditions.

03/25/2026

***THIS POST IS OUT OF DATE*** A combination of near record high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds will bring critical fire weather conditions Wednesday. Take care not to cause a spark!