Montana Fires
Track active Montana wildfires with a live MT wildfire map. See fires in Montana today – location, size, and containment status – plus new and updated Montana wildfire information for 2026. We monitor official sources so you always see current, verified data.
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Inciweb Media
Recent media provided by InciWeb of Montana fire activity.
Daily Wildfire Report
Southwest Montana Firefighters Strengthen Lines as Weather Moderates Fire Activity
Firefighters across southwestern Montana are capitalizing on recent moisture and cooler weather to build and hold containment lines on several active blazes. Multiple forest roads, trails, and scenic corridors remain closed to ensure public and responder safety near active operations. Fire activity remains tempered in western mountain ranges, while warm, dry conditions continue across eastern Montana.
Key Fires
- Sand Creek Fire — Burning in the West Pioneer Mountains, crews are holding southern perimeter lines and conducting strategic firing operations from setback breaks. The Pioneer Scenic Byway and adjacent Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest recreation areas remain closed.
- Bobcat Lakes Fire — Located between Wise River and Wisdom, crews are carrying out vegetation chipping and suppression repair along Forest Service Road 1299 to reinforce perimeter boundaries. Area recreation closures remain in effect in coordination with nearby operations.
- Nature Grove Fire — Burning in the Skalkaho drainage east of Hamilton, recent rainfall has calmed fire activity, though dry fuels keep fire potential present. Pilot car operations on Highway 38 have concluded, but several surrounding Forest Service roads remain closed.
- Moose Fire — Burning near Philipsburg, crews have established indirect lines along the Mount Emerine corridor. Emergency Forest Service closures are in place for Frog Pond Road, Ross Fork Road, Beaver Creek Road, and nearby trails.
Conditions and Outlook
Cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and periodic chances of rain will help limit fire behavior across southwestern mountain zones over the coming days. However, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for Sunday afternoon in the Eastern Beaverhead National Forest due to gusty southerly winds and lower humidity. Significant fire potential remains mostly low to moderate across the state, with breezy, warm conditions persisting in the eastern plains.
Burn Bans and Land Management
Fourteen Montana counties, including Granite County, are currently under Stage 1 fire restrictions across public and private lands.
What Residents Should Do
- Check Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Bitterroot National Forest closure orders before heading into backcountry recreation areas.
- Follow Stage 1 fire restrictions by refraining from open campfires outside designated metal rings.
- Monitor air quality downwind in the Deer Lodge, Philipsburg, and Anaconda valleys when smoke settles.