2024 Montana wildfires

While "fire season" in Montana varies every year based on weather conditions, most wildfires occur in between May and October. Wildfires are influenced by above average temperatures and dry conditions that influence drought. When vegetation dries out earlier in the season, wildfires are more likely to start and spread. The leading cause of wildfires in Montana is burning debris.^[3] The spread rate of wildfires is affected by the buildup of fuels.^[4]

Wildfire season had a slow, quiet start, most likely from some precipitation in May, but June was drier than average. In July, temperatures had increased as high as the triple digits and there was little precipitation. Subsequently, wildfires were now starting all around the state. Dry thunderstorms ignited the Deadman, McGhee, Prairie, and Four Mile fires. In August, a weather pattern change resulted in cooler temperatures and above-average precipitation. Firefighters were able to control the fires that began in July and new wildfires were easily kept from getting out of control.^[5][6] In Eastern Montana, drought lasted into early November, with some areas of Yellowstone County in moderate to extreme droughts. However, in Western Montana, cold temperatures and snow had essentially brought an end to wildfire season. A cold front had moved into the area. Once snowfall had ended fire season in all of the state, prescribed burns and pile burns began to remove future fuels.^[7] Approximately 700 wildfires were sparked by lightning, while about 1,300 were human-caused.^[8]

While fighting the Horse Gulch Fire, 45-year-old pilot Juliana Turchetti's water scooper crashed into a mountain, and she was killed upon impact.^[2] Wildfires contributed to poor air quality across the states along with wildfires in Idaho.^[9]

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Perimeters of 2024 Montana wildfires (map data)