I was pretty young, but I remember just being on the ranch in the house that wildfires

burned like 70 miles high winds.

That's 22-year-old Ricky Held, testifying in court in Helena, Montana earlier this

week.

She's talking about the 2012 Ash Creek wildfire that put her family's ranch in a very

precarious position.

Ricky and 15 other young people are suing Montana, claiming their home state prioritized its

pro-fossil fuel policies over ensuring a clean environment, which is certainly a thing

that's done in many states.

But Montana's constitution, written in 1972, enshrines the right to a healthy environment

for residents.

And so, a trial will unfold over the next two weeks.

Coming up on today's explained, we're going to hear from a plaintiff and ask, could the

first trial of its kind in history lead to many more?

It's today explained, I'm Noel King.

This is a gutsy lawsuit, this Montana lawsuit.

And of course, that made us wonder what the youths involved are thinking, exactly.

So, we're starting today with an interview that my colleague, John Clinton Hill, conducted.

John Clinton or JQ is the host of the Vox podcast, The Weeds, and The Weeds has been in

the Weeds of this trial.

Yeah, so 16 young people are suing the state of Montana.

In this case, that's known as held V Montana.

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