2025 Montana wildfires
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[2] The spread rate of wildfires is affected by the buildup of fuels.[3]
Summary
Despite a worsening drought, the number of acres burned in Montana by July 24 was significantly less than land managers expected. While there had been a similar number of starts compared to last year, (1,116 on July 21, 2025 with 1,069 one year prior), there had been significantly less area burned (92,000 acres (37,000 ha) on July 21, 2024 compared to just 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) the same time in 2025). This was mostly due to heavy-precipitation storms coming from Northwest United States. It moistened terrain, making it less favorable to fire spread. Storms hit areas that needed moisture.[4] However, officials remained the most concerned for Bitterroot Valley from forest fuels and inaccessible terrain, Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson counties due to population growth, the Central Montana grasslands due to grass fuels, and the Eastern plains due to heavy grass growth.[5] Main fire concerns are hot temperatures.[4]
Lightning caused several wildfires throughout Southwestern Montana, although several wildfires were human-caused, as well. Thunderstorms moved through areas under red flag warnings and heat advisories, starting several large wildfires (including the Horn, Bivens Creek, Cloudrest, Windy Rock, and McAllister fires). Temperatures were in excess of 90 °F, and strong thunderstorms posed threats The fires in Madison County were the most severe in terms of smoke and spread.[6][7][8] The Horn Fire prompted an evacuation order and closed several residential roads and a campground,[9] while the McAllister Fire prompted an evacuation warning near U.S. Route 87.[6]
By early October, mountain snow and cooler temperatures essentially brought an end to fire season. By October 8, just over 76,000 acres (31,000 ha) had burned in the state, the fourth-lowest in fifteen years. However, the total number of fire starts was above average, at 2,200, the sixth highest in fifteen years. Overall, the summer was both cooler and wetter than average and quick response times to new fire starts decreased the number of days with poor air quality than in the past.[10]
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date[a] | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawlog | Beaverhead | 2,030 | May 1 | May 19 | Undetermined cause. Burned 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Wisdom. Cost $2.5 million in suppression. | [12][13] |
| Wilder | Fergus | 3,450 | July 2 | July 22 | Lightning-caused. Burned 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Roy. | [14][15] |
| Tullock | Big Horn | 1,469 | August 4 | August 8 | Unknown cause. Burned 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Hardin. | [16] |
| Mission Butte | Big Horn | 6,149 | August 12 | Unknown cause. Burned 3 miles (4.8 km) east of St. Xavier. | [17] | |
| Summer Springs | Treasure | 2,568 | August 13 | August 23 | Lightning-caused. Burned 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Custer. | [18][19] |
| Pony Creek | Rosebud | 1,062 | August 13 | August 15 | Lightning-caused. Burned 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Colstrip. | [20][21] |
| Horn | Madison | 2,800 | August 13 | August 22 | Lightning-caused. Burned 17 miles (27 km) northwest of West Yellowstone and prompting pre-evacuations near Madison River Ranch. | [22][23][24] |
| Bivens Creek | Madison | 2,126 | August 13 | September 8 | Unknown cause. Burned 10 miles (16 km) east of Sheridan. | [25][26] |
| Cloudrest | Madison | 3,224 | August 14 | October 31 | Lightning-caused. Burned 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Virginia City and prompted an evacuation warning. | [25][27][28] |
| Windy Rock | Powell | 6,175 | August 14 | November 6 | Lightning-caused. Burning 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Drummond. | [29] |
| McAllister | Madison | 3,560 | August 16 | August 27 | Lightning-caused. Burned 4 miles (6.4 km) north of McAllister. Prompted evacuations. | [30][31] |
| Knowles | Sanders | 3,816 | August 17 | September 10 | Human-caused. Burned 11 miles (18 km) east of Plains. | [32] |
| Isabella | Sanders | 1,411 | August 31 | October 24 | Lightning-caused. Closed parts of Kootenai National Forest along with the smaller Lost Girl Fire. | [33][34][35] |
| Timber Butte | Beaverhead | 2,245 | September 3 | September 25 | Unknown cause. Burned 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Dell. | [36] |
| Salmon Forks | Flathead, Powell | 2,454 | September 12 | Lightning-caused. Burned 19 miles (31 km) east of Condon. | [37] |
