Wildfire in Montana

Events

269

Deaths

2

Injuries

41

Damage

$27 million

• Wildfire and High Wind in Montana, March 28 to 31, 20152 deaths · 64 kt wind · 19 eventsA strong upper level disturbance and associated cold front moved rapidly across the Northern Rockies on Saturday March 28th. The system produced widespread severe wind, with peak wind gusts ranging from 60 to 70 mph, along with critical fire weather conditions.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 16 to 20, 20211 death · 1 injured · 1 eventThe Harris Wildfire north of Joliet, which was caused by lightning, burned around 2600 acres.|Road closures consisted of Coal Creek Road from Highway 212 to Bellion Road, all of Bellion Road and both entrances of Farewell Road. Multiple agencies responded to the fire.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Montana, October 31, 1999$11 million · 65 kt wind · 14 eventsHigh winds sustained at 50 to 60 miles an hour and gusts to near 80 miles an hour caused minor damage throughout northeast Montana. The winds were also responsible for the rapid spread of several wild fires which reeked havoc through several communities.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 23 to 31, 20002 injured · $2.5 million · 1 eventCanyon Ferry Complex - includes Broadwater County, 38570 acres burned, 13 residences destroyed, 37 outbuildings destroyed, unknown cause, continued past July 31.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 1 to 28, 20002 injured · $2.5 million · 1 eventContinued Canyon Ferry Complex - includes Broadwater County, 38570 acres burned, cause unknown, 13 residents destroyed, 37 outbuildings destroyed.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 16 to 27, 2003$3.9 million · 1 eventThe Missouri Breaks Complex Fires started on July 16th due to lightning strikes. The complex of fires included four fires in Eastern Garfield County. The four fires included the Germain, Ghost Coulee, Big Coulee and Indian fires and was classified as a type two incident.
• Flash Flood and Wildfire in Montana, August 1, 2021$3.6 million · 2 eventsMonsoonal subtropical moisture set the stage for thunderstorms to produce heavy rainfall across southwest Montana. North of this moisture plume, the Boulder 2700 fire burned down structures near Montana Highway 35 along the southeastern shore of Flathead Lake.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 6 to 24, 2003$1.0 million · 1 eventHobble FireCause: Lightning StrikeBegin Date: August 6, 2003End Date: August 24, 2003Acres Burned: 40,000Structural Loss: 15Cost: 1M
• Wildfire and Dust Devil in Montana, August 16, 20033 injured · $250,000 · 2 eventsCool front passed through western Montana during the afternoon and evening hours with gusty west winds behind the front. A dust devil formed over the Nine Mile fire camp with wind speeds estimated at 40 to 50 mph, which blew over a supply tent.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 17 to 23, 1998$525,000 · 1 eventDry lightning set off a wildfire which burned 133 acres near the Parkside Campground in the Beartooth National Forest.
• Wildfire in Montana, September 1 to 12, 20003 injured · $160,000 · 1 eventMaudlow/Toston fire - included Broadwater County, 81687 acres burned, 1 resident destroyed, 1 outbuilding destroyed, human caused, continued from August.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 15 to 31, 20003 injured · $160,000 · 1 eventMaudlow/Toston fire - included southeast Broadwater County, 81687 acres burned, 1 resident destroyed, 1 outbuilding destroyed, human caused, continued past August 31.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 30, 2023$300,000 · 1 eventGusty westerly winds combined with low humidity to create conditions supportive of fire growth during the afternoon and evening hours.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 16 to 31, 2003$250,000 · 1 eventCathedral PeakCause: Lightning StrikeBegin Date: August 16, 2003End Date: September 30, 2003Acres Burned: 3000Structural Loss: 1Cost: 250,000K
• Wildfire in Montana, September 1 to 30, 2003$250,000 · 1 eventCathedral PeakCause: Lightning StrikeBegin Date: August 16, 2003End Date: September 30, 2003Acres Burned: 3000Structural Loss: 1Cost: 250,000K
• Wildfire in Montana, March 24, 20082 injured · $100,000 · 2 eventsVery strong winds combined with low humidities fueled multiple wildfires across northeast Montana this afternoon. Two of these fires grew out of control for several hours and destroyed a combined 5000 acres.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 17 to 19, 1998$200,000 · 1 eventA wildfire which was believed to have been set by lightning burned 1850 acres on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 12 to 24, 2003$200,000 · 1 eventCraig II/Windmill ComplexCause: Lightning StrikeBegin Date: August 12, 2003End Date: August 24, 2003Acres Burned: 9000Structural Loss: 3Cost: 200,000K
• Wildfire and High Wind in Montana, April 8 to 9, 2010$75,000 · 63 kt wind · 13 eventsA strong area of low pressure moved east across southern Saskatchewan. High winds associated with a trailing cold front helped to kick up brush fires in some areas.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 15 to 24, 2006$100,000 · 4 eventsDry thunderstorms moved through Petroleum, Garfield, Southern Phillips and Southern Valley counties during the evening of July 15th. The storms ignited several wildfires.
• Wildfire in Montana, September 1 to 24, 20006 injured · $10,000 · 1 eventMussigbrod Complex fire - only partly in Beaverhead County, 84939 acres burned, lightning caused, continued from August.
• Wildfire in Montana, July 31, 20006 injured · $10,000 · 1 eventMussingbrod Complex fire - only partly in Beaverhead County, 84939 acres burned, lightning caused, continued past July 31.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 1 to 31, 20006 injured · $10,000 · 1 eventMussigbrod Complex fire - only partly in Beaverhead County, 84939 acres burned, lightning caused, continued past August 31.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Montana, March 28 to 29, 202176 kt wind · 43 eventsAn anomalously deep Pacific trough initially brought H700 (mountain top) westerly winds of 50 to 80 kts on Sunday March 28th, 2021, which eclipsed the 99th percentile of climatology over many areas during the height of the storm.
• Wildfire in Montana, June 14 to 24, 20215 injured · 1 eventThe Deep Creek Fire began on June 13, 2021, likely due to a tree falling on a power line. While occasional critical fire weather conditions helped the blaze to grow and spread, the fire was 95% contained on June 24th.

Wildfire everywhereEvery kind of event in Montana

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.