Another Montana wildfire season is coming to a close. According to the Northern Rockies Coordination Center, a total of 2,055 wildfires burned 174,255 acres in Montana this year, well below the average season of approximately 350,000 acres. Four out of the last 5 years have been well below the average acreage burned.
The Sand Creek Fire in the Pioneer Mountains was the largest wildland fire this year at 35,520 acres. The fire did claim the ski lift at Maverick Mountain, but the lodge at the ski area and the structures at Elkhorn Hot Springs were miraculously saved. The Camp Creek Fire and Silver Tip Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness burned nearly 10,000 acres and 7,000 acres respectively.
Most of Montana's largest wildfires started during an intense heatwave that lasted nearly 3 weeks from the middle of July into the very beginning of August. Coming off a fairly dry winter in the lower elevations, and with seasonal forecasts of an extremely hot and dry summer, there was the possibility of this being a dangerous wildfire season. However, Montana was fortunate. Mother nature helped with a late June rain and snowstorm. And following the late July heat, August cooled off and there were timely rains. Summer ended up slightly warmer than average, and wetter than average for many locations. Mother nature assisted incredible wildland firefighting efforts that minimized the growth of many of the state's fires. And although there were several days to more than a week of unhealthy air quality conditions, the number of smoky days was lower than a typical season.
4 out of the last 5 years, the wildfire acreage burned has been significantly less than normal here in Montana. and now you're a little more Weather Wise.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
