2025 Montana wildfires


A series of wildfires burned throughout the U.S. state of Montana during 2025.

Background

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. The spread rate of wildfires is affected by the buildup of fuels.

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,, there had been significantly less area burned. 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. 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. Main fire concerns are hot temperatures.
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. 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. The Horn Fire prompted an evacuation order and closed several residential roads and a campground, while the McAllister Fire prompted an evacuation warning near U.S. Route 87.
By early October, mountain snow and cooler temperatures essentially brought an end to fire season. By October 8, just over 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.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than, or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
SawlogBeaverhead2,0301 5 202519 5 2025Undetermined cause. Burned northeast of Wisdom. Cost $2.5 million in suppression.
WilderFergus3,4502 7 202522 7 2025Lightning-caused. Burned northeast of Roy.
TullockBig Horn1,4694 8 20258 8 2025Unknown cause. Burned northeast of Hardin.
Mission ButteBig Horn6,14912 8 2025Unknown cause. Burned east of St. Xavier.
Summer SpringsTreasure2,56813 8 202523 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned southeast of Custer.
Pony CreekRosebud1,06213 8 202515 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned east of Colstrip.
HornMadison2,80013 8 202522 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned northwest of West Yellowstone and prompting pre-evacuations near Madison River Ranch.
Bivens CreekMadison2,12613 8 20258 9 2025Unknown cause. Burned east of Sheridan.
CloudrestMadison3,22414 8 202531.10.2025Lightning-caused. Burned northwest of Virginia City and prompted an evacuation warning.
Windy RockPowell6,17514 8 20256 11 2025Lightning-caused. Burning northeast of Drummond.
McAllisterMadison3,56016 8 202527 8 2025Lightning-caused. Burned north of McAllister. Prompted evacuations.
KnowlesSanders3,81617 8 202510 9 2025Human-caused. Burned east of Plains.
IsabellaSanders1,41131 8 202524.10.2025Lightning-caused. Closed parts of Kootenai National Forest along with the smaller Lost Girl Fire.
Timber ButteBeaverhead2,2453 9 202525 9 2025Unknown cause. Burned west of Dell.
Salmon ForksFlathead, Powell2,45412 9 2025Lightning-caused. Burned east of Condon.