Montana Fire Season Fades; Here’s Where Drought Continues

While Montana's largest fires of the year are largely contained right now, fire managers are still worried about what could happen as we enter what looks to be a dry October, starting with some fire weather this week.

Although red flags hadn't been posted, National Weather Service forecasters had issued high wind warnings along the Rocky Mountain Front and the Northern Divide, with the forecast suggesting winds could gust upwards of 60 to 75 miles per hour later Tuesday. That was raising some concern about fresh fire starts.

      🔥 Montana DNRC reported 20 new fire starts across the state this past week, with 8 new large fires.

Containment nearly complete on West Pioneer Fires

The largest of this year's fires are getting closer to being completely contained. The 35,000-acre Sand Creek Fire and 10,800-acre Bobcat Lakes Fire in the West Pioneers are nearing full containment.

Sand Creek is 83% contained, with 91% containment on Bobcat Lakes.

     At last word, the Pioneer Scenic Byway was still closed to through traffic.

US Drought Monitor

Drought conditions are easing in Montana

On the drought front, Montana is actually seeing some reduced drought headed into the fall in the past several years.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows the only level of D3 "extreme drought" in the state as we enter October is in the southeast corner of the state. Powder River, Carter, Fallon County, and a portion of Custer County continue in drought conditions.

Those areas are bordered by areas of "severe drought", extending west to Carbon and Sweet Grass counties.

"Moderate drought" conditions cover a widespread portion of the state, stretching from the Beaverhead and Madison valleys on the west, to the Gallatin, Central Montana, east to Rosebud and Richland County on the east.

No drought in Western Montana

The multi-year drought that had plagued the Blackfoot watershed has vanished. Some areas like the Big Hole, Silver Bow, and western sections of Sanders, Mineral, and Lincoln counties are "abnormally dry." Portions of Hill, Blaine, and Phillips counties are also "abnormally dry."