Fire Monitor
Montana fires map: live wildfire tracking and smoke conditions
Use this page to monitor active wildfires in Montana, see where fire activity is clustering, and explore individual event details.
Recent wildfire alerts in Montana
A wildfire-focused event feed sorted by the latest updates and built for quick drill-down.
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Fire hotspots
Regions with the most concentrated wildfire activity
About this tracker
Montana Wildfire Season
Montana's wildfire season generally builds through the summer and peaks in August and September, when high temperatures and low humidity dry out both the state's western forests and its eastern grasslands. The two halves of the state produce very different fire behavior: slow-building, high-intensity forest fires in the mountains west of the Continental Divide, and fast-moving, wind-driven grass fires across the plains to the east.
The 2017 fire season was one of the most destructive in Montana's recent history. The Lodgepole Complex burned across a huge stretch of grassland in north-central Montana, while the Rice Ridge Fire burned in the forests near Seeley Lake, blanketing the Blackfoot Valley in smoke for weeks. Together, the fires of that season strained state and federal firefighting resources across Montana.
Montana's fire history is also tied to the historic 1988 fire season, when the fires that burned through Yellowstone National Park also spread into forests along Montana's southern border. Track current Montana fire activity on our wildfire map and see conditions in neighboring Wyoming.
Eastern Grassland vs. Western Forest Fires
Eastern Montana's prairie and grassland fires, like the 2017 Lodgepole Complex, can burn tens of thousands of acres in a single wind-driven push, moving faster than firefighters can often contain across open, sparsely populated terrain. These fires threaten ranchland, livestock, and rural structures rather than the dense forests found further west.
West of the Continental Divide, Montana's forests — including areas around Missoula, Seeley Lake, and the Bitterroot Valley — burn less often but more intensely, with fire behavior driven by drought-stressed timber, beetle-killed trees, and steep terrain. Smoke from these forest fires can settle into mountain valleys for extended periods, creating hazardous air quality even when fires remain well outside city limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Montana wildfire season?
Montana wildfire season typically builds through the summer and peaks in August and September. Western Montana's forests tend to burn later in the season as fuels dry out, while eastern Montana's grasslands can produce fast-moving fires throughout the warmer months.
What happened during the 2017 Montana fire season?
The 2017 fire season was one of Montana's most destructive in recent memory. The Lodgepole Complex burned across a large area of grassland in north-central Montana, and the Rice Ridge Fire burned in the forests near Seeley Lake, filling the Blackfoot Valley with smoke for weeks.
How do eastern and western Montana wildfires differ?
Eastern Montana's grassland and prairie fires spread quickly in wind across open, sparsely populated terrain, threatening ranchland and rural structures. Western Montana's forest fires, in the mountains and valleys, tend to burn less often but more intensely, driven by drought and heavy timber fuels.
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Last updated 8/9/2026, 8:45:13 PM