BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: New developments this morning in the devastating western wildfires. Montana's governor now getting ready to declare the entire state a disaster area. CNN's Charles Zewe live this morning from Darby, Montana, right near the boarder with Idaho, with more for us. Charles, hello to you.</s>CHARLES ZEWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning from Darby, Montana, Bill. You can see the fire crews back there in the distance behind me getting ready to go out on the fire lines this morning. They say they had a relatively calm night here in Darby, which is the center of the fight in the Bitterroot Mountain range in the complex of fires they call the "valley complex," which straddles the border between Idaho and Montana. Firefighters saying they held their own in trying to herd these fires into the canyons and draws in this area and away from the homes, continuing to try to preserve homes. They have lost about two dozen homes all told in the last couple of weeks here, but no one has been hurt here and that is the important thing. As you mentioned, Montana Governor Marc Racicot later this morning is expected to declare a state of emergency for the entire state of Montana. That will allow him to use the state's National Guard in helping to contain these fires and helping in support activities, and also helping in the movement of people out of areas if that becomes necessary, if evacuations are ordered. Many of the people in these areas are sticking by their homes until the very last. They don't want to take the chance that they might be able to save something as the fires rush down upon them. Fire officials say the danger will continue. The weather forecast for the next few days is encouraging: somewhat calmer winds, still, however, dry temperatures, and forecasters are saying they are heading into the worst part of the fire season in the next three weeks. Charles Zewe, CNN, live, Darby, Montana.</s>HEMMER: All right, Charles, thank you. And the smoke, indeed, worse again today.
Montana Governor to Declare Entire State a Disaster Area