Montana is no stranger to natural disasters.

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Of course, if you've been watching the news lately, you've no doubt seen all of the devastation that has taken place in California due to the wildfires there. The jury is still out on the cause of the fires.

Over the years, Montana has witnessed some of the worst natural and man-made disasters in the United States. Of course, while historians will talk about the great Chicago fire of 1871 or the San Fransico earthquake of 1906, Montana has had its fair share of some of those resulting in a significant loss of life which would have been much worse if Montana's population was more condensed.

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The most recent disaster that comes to mind was the flood of 2022 which saw an area of the state underwater with houses, bridges, roads, and buildings washed away. What started as early summer rains would turn into not only a "state of emergency", but would impact several small towns and cost the state tens of millions of dollars in lost tourism.

Flooding isn't the only natural disaster Montana has dealt with over the years. Large fires, blizzards, and earthquakes have also played a factor, which has not only altered Montana's landscape but has claimed many of Montana's sons and daughters along the way.

One of the biggest natural disasters in the state was the fire of 1910, or what many people call "The Big Blowup".

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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The Big Blowup was a multi-state fire that resulted in parts of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and even parts of British Columbia burning. In the end, 86 people lost their lives, which in reality was a miracle that it wasn't more. The fire destroyed several towns and is considered the biggest fire in U.S. history resulting in more than 3 million acres of forest being destroyed.

Montana's 8 Worst Natural And Man-Made Disasters

Over the years, Montana has experienced significant natural and man-made disasters that have resulted in not only the loss of lives, but millions of acres lost, along with tens of millions of dollars in damages.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

25 Mind-Blowing Photos of Devastating Flooding in Montana

20 Mind-Blowing Photos of Devastating Flooding in Montana

Gallery Credit: Jesse James

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

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