From Governor Bullock:

"I hereby order all flags flown in the state of Montana to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 to honor Montana Air National Guard Pilot Lt. Col. Ian McBeth, who lost his life in the line of duty as a first responder on January 23rd, 2020.

"Ian was a devoted father and husband, a brave first responder, and a selfless service member who made the ultimate sacrifice helping the people of Australia combat the catastrophic wildfires devastating their country. Our service members and their families already sacrifice so much, and Ian took his call of duty even further to help those in need across the world. The thoughts and prayers of my family and administration are with the family, friends, and the fellow guard members of Lt. Col. McBeth. We will always be grateful for Ian’s service to our state, our nation and the world."