First, we have to give a big thumbs down to the Helena teen whose "cannon-like" device made from fireworks began Sunday's fire near Spring Meadow Lake.

The fire burned nearly 50 acres, destroyed two homes and some other structures, damaged the historic "Pattern House" perhaps beyond repair and caused the evacuation of 500 people.

That fire and one a couple of days earlier on Oro Fino Gulch that also prompted some evacuations prove the season to be careful is far from over.

But the fast response by local, volunteer, Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service firefighters and other emergency responders deserves a thumbs up.

It's not an exaggeration to say they prevented a major catastrophe.

One last thumbs up spurred by the fire to game wardens Dave Loewen and Kevin Cook, who went to Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center during the fire and released a number of bears into an enclosure with pools of water.

They then fought some small fires surrounding the center.

Surveys this week showed that meth use has dropped dramatically in Montana among both youths and adults.

That hasn't been the case in many areas around the country, and the survey results show how effective the Montana Meth Project has been.

It's hard to overstate how important an issue meth use has become.

About half of the people in Montana's correctional system are there for meth-related crimes. And almost half of the foster children in the state come from homes where the drug was being used.

Philanthropist Thomas Siebel began the Montana Meth Project and has largely footed the bill for it so far. He's matching private donations for it up to $5 million, and efforts are under way to create a budget with money from other sources as well.

For example, $500,000 has been set aside for the project in the federal budget, although that budget has yet to be finalized.

Other states are looking at replicating the program.

Siebel testified at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on meth called by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., that $40 million in federal money would fund the program in 10 more states.