Montana Department of Environmental Quality About Us Permitting & Operator Assistance Public Participation

Smoke Forecast for Friday, October 11, 2024 9:30 AM

  • October 11 2024

Current Conditions

Clouds and cooler air on Thursday helped to moderate fire behavior on the wildfires burning in Idaho and Montana. As high pressure reasserts itself on Friday, fire activity and surface smoke concentrations will gradually increase around the region.

There are numerous active wildfires still burning in the Central Idaho mountains. This combined with a couple of wildfires in Montana will keep smoke and haze around the Treasure State. In Central Idaho southwest of Salmon, the Black Eagle and Red Rock fires have merged and remain very active. These wildfires have burned a combined 76,000 acres. The Daly fire burning east of Hamilton in the Sapphire Mountains has grown over 8,100 acres. Fire behavior did moderate slightly on Thursday thanks to clouds and cooler air. However, a ridge of high pressure will contribute to more active fire behavior Friday and into the weekend. The Daly fire is 56% contained and it is the largest staffed wildfire in Montana, with 230 people working on it.

See the latest Air Resource Advisor report from Central Idaho and Southwest Montana here

At 9:00 AM Friday, Libby, Helena, Butte, and Dillon were enduring Moderate air quality. 

Friday morning’s satellite shows clouds along and ahead of a weak system pushing across the Treasure State.

Friday morning’s satellite shows clouds along and ahead of a weak system pushing across the Treasure State.

Source: NOAA

 

Forecast

A sprawling area of high pressure will build over the Northern Rockies starting Friday. It will dominate the weather story across the region into the weekend. Expect temperatures as much as 20 degrees above normal, and some of the valleys could see highs topping 80 degrees. The warmer temperatures, dry fuels, and breezy afternoons will lead to more active fire behavior on the wildfires burning in Idaho and Montana. However, a decreasing fall sun angle will help to mitigate these factors somewhat.

Even warmer air is expected by Monday and Tuesday of next week as the ridge becomes more amplified. Expect some pooling and draining of smoke overnight, particularly in valleys adjacent to some of the larger wildfires like the Daly fire. Expect the Bitterroot and Big Hole Valleys to see the greatest diurnal impacts from this pattern.

By the middle part of next week, the ridge gradually weakens and opens the door to an area of low pressure. The system will provide some much-needed precipitation for Montana. The mountains above 5,000 feet will pick up a few inches of snow, and the valleys will see some rainfall. The precipitation will help to ease fire weather concerns across the Treasure State after several weeks without measurable precipitation. The system will also help to reduce surface smoke concentrations. Stay tuned!

By midday Saturday, the HRRR smoke model shows some areas of light smoke over much of Montana from regional wildfires.

By midday Saturday, the HRRR smoke model shows some areas of light smoke over much of Montana from regional wildfires.

Source: HRRR Smoke

 

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at todaysair.mtdeq.us or the Fire and Smoke Map.

 

Current Wildfires

Current Wildfires

Incident

State

location

acres

containment

Middle Fork Complex Fire: Bulldog and Nellie - IDBOF

Idaho

7 miles east of Garden Valley, ID

61,495

90%

Wapiti Fire - IDBOF

Idaho

10 miles west of Stanley, ID

128,020

85%

Goat Fire - IDBOF

Idaho

8 miles SE of Cascade, Idaho

33,450

23%

Lava Fire  - IDBOF

Idaho

12 miles SW of Cascade, ID

97,574

90%

Snag Fire - IDBOF

Idaho

9.5 miles east of Cascade, Idaho

33,437

90%

Logan Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

The fire is centered around Edwardsburg, but has burned north, east, west and south of the community.  It has moved into the Wilderness area. Krassel Ranger District, Payette National Forest

13,742

NA

Farrow Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

NA

3,084

NA

Parks Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

NA

5,610

NA

2024 Valley Fire - IDIDS

Idaho

Boise Foothills near Warm Springs Avenue and Hwy 21

9,904

66%

Elkhorn Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

Krassel Ranger District, Payette National Forest

26,048

NA

South Selway Complex - IDNCF

Idaho

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

1,927

NA

Boulder Creek Fire - IDNCF

Idaho

Within Game Unit 12: located ten miles north of the Powell Ranger Station and 12 miles west of Lolo Hot Springs

40

NA

Grave Butte Fire - IDNCF

Idaho

Within Game Unit 12: located ten miles west of Jerry Johnson Campground and about half a mile from National Forest Service Road #107 (Saddle Camp Road)

23

NA

Surprise Fire - IDNCF

Idaho

Three and one-half miles NE of Hunter Peak, Fifteen miles NW of Darby, MT in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

792

NA

Cracker Jack Complex - IDNCF

Idaho

Whistling Pig Canyon East of Jumbo Camp

5,240

NA

Dollar Fire  - IDBOF

Idaho

18 miles NE of Cascade, Idaho

4,360

8%

Chimney Fire - IDEIX

Idaho

9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID

6,521

80%

Copper Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

NA

2,129

NA

Burnt Creek Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

NA

2,665

NA

Slab Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

NA

50

50%

Moore Square Complex - IDNCF

Idaho

Both Fires are located in the Gospel-Hump Wilderness Area near Square Mountain

3,673

50%

Moose Creek Complex - IDNCF

Idaho

East Moose creek Bridge to Elbow Bend impacted

14,762

NA

Boulder Fire - IDBOF

Idaho

9 Miles Southwest of Cascade, Idaho.

NA

NA

Bulltrout Fire - IDBOF

Idaho

15 miles WNW OF Stanley, ID

271

92%

Robbin Fire - IDNCF

Idaho

Within Game Unit 12: located less than six and a half miles southwest of Powell Ranger Station and less than three and a half miles south of Wendover Campground

NA

NA

Bench Lake Fire - IDSTF

Idaho

8 miles south of Stanley, Idaho

2,595

90%

Oxbow Fire - IDPAF

Idaho

Near Oxbow dam in Hells Canyon

6,000

NA

Garden Fire - IDSCF

Idaho

Approximately two (2) miles southwest of the confluence of Panther Creek and the Main Salmon River on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

9,533

0%

Birch Fire - IDSCF

Idaho

The west side of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River on Norton Ridge on the Middle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness

20,759

0%

Red Rock Fire - IDSCF

Idaho

15 miles west of Salmon, ID

68,472

19%

Nugget Fire  - IDSCF

Idaho

Approximately 40 miles west of Salmon on the North Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, west of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

994

0%

Vanity Fire - IDSCF

Idaho

37 NW West of Challis, Idaho

600

30%

Mowitch Fire  - IDSCF

Idaho

Approximately three (3) miles north of Indian Creek on the MIddle Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

5,412

0%

Railroad-Daly Fire - MTBRF

Montana

Railroad Creek/ Skalkaho Creek confluence, 26 miles SE of Hamilton

10,934

NA

Grouse  - MTBDF

Montana

Ten miles southwest of Wise River, MT

6,100

NA

Sheep Creek - MTBDF

Montana

5 miles southwest of Bernice, MT

487

NA

Ratio Mountain - MTBDF

Montana

15 miles northwest of Whitehall, MT.

2,091

NA

Sharrott Creek Fire - MTBRF

Montana

Three miles west of Stevensville, Montana

3,204

NA

Long Tom Fire - MTMTS

Montana

10 miles south of Anaconda, MT

57

57%

Johnson Fire  - MTBRF

Montana

3 miles south of Springer Memorial Community in the East Fork of the Bitterroot

6,687

NA

Magruder Ridge Fire - MTBRF

Montana

Selway Bitterroot Wilderness

3,625

0%

Elkhorn Ridge - MTBRF

Montana

West Fork District

3,125

0%

Trail Ridge Fire - MTBDF

Montana

22 miles NW of Wisdom MT

18,138

80%

McDermott - MTBDF

Montana

17 miles northwest of Philipsburg, MT

427

NA

Marsh Creek - MTHLF

Montana

12 Miles Southeast of Lincoln, MT

151

0%

Remington Fire - MTGNF

Montana

14 miles NE of Leiter, WY, multiple counties in southeast Montana.

196,368

88%

Black Mountain - MTHLF

Montana

6 miles northwest of Lincoln. Mont.

182

100%

Pentagon Fire - MTFNF

Montana

45 miles SE of Bigfork, MT

62

0%

Rail Ridge - OROCF

Oregon

Less than 1 mile south of Dayville, OR

174,081

89%

Willamette Complex Fires - South - ORWIF

Oregon

Willamette Complex South fires are 8 miles north and 8 to 22 miles S-SE of Oakridge.

24,386

NA

Bingham Fire - ORWIF

Oregon

Bingham Ridge: 2 miles east of Marion Forks and 10 miles south east of Idanha

199

65%

Tiger Creek Fire - ORUMF

Oregon

15 southeast of Walla Walla, WA.

573

11%

Bachelor Complex Fires - ORDEF

Oregon

Mt Bachelor, 20 miles SW Bend, OR

14,771

63%

Red Fire - ORDEF

Oregon

Diamond Peak Wilderness, 16 miles west, north-west of Crescent Oregon.

2,993

15%

Homestead Complex - ORUPF

Oregon

Thirty miles northeast of Glide Oregon

11,073

35%

Diamond Complex  - ORUPF

Oregon

18 miles southwest of Chemult, Oregon

11,141

90%

Lane 1 Fire - OR77S

Oregon

Approximately 16 miles SE of Springfield, OR

25,952

99%

North Willamette Complex - ORWIF

Oregon

Willamette National Forest

5,492

NA

Whisky Creek Fire - ORMHF

Oregon

East fork of Herman Creek, 6 miles SE of Cascade Locks, OR

3,203

25%

Microwave Tower Fire - OR95S

Oregon

1 mile WSW of Mosier, OR

1,313

95%

Wiley Flat - OROCF

Oregon

10 miles southeast of Post, Oregon

30,186

98%

Buck Creek Fire - ORFWF

Oregon

12 miles southwest of Silver Lake in a semi-primitive area of the Forest with limited road access.

5,758

98%

Flat Top and Firestone Fires - ORDEF

Oregon

North of Fort Rock, OR

NA

NA

Middle Fork Fire - ORCLP

Oregon

Crater Lake National Park; Middle Fork area

5,286

70%

Shoe Fly Fire - OR95S

Oregon

6 Miles NE of Mitchell, Oregon

26,817

89%

Copperfield Fire - OR98S

Oregon

10 miles east of Chiloquin, Oregon

3,822

94%

Lone Rock Fire - ORPRD

Oregon

Lonerock stretching to west of HWY 207 and south to HWY 19

137,222

98%

Battle Mountain Complex - OR97S

Oregon

West and south of Ukiah, OR

183,026

94%

Warner Peak Fire - ORSHR

Oregon

3 miles East of Plush, on the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge

65,866

85%

Town Gulch - ORWWF

Oregon

Eagle Creek Rd Area, 24 Miles East of Baker City OR, 8 Miles N of Richland, OR

18,220

89%

Cliff Mountain - ORWWF

Oregon

25 Miles East of Joseph, Oregon

1,108

75%

Porcupine Fire - ORBUD

Oregon

Porcupine Reservoir

6,491

95%

Badland Complex 2024 - ORVAD

Oregon

Baker County, Oregon

54,563

99%

Durkee Fire - ORVAD

Oregon

1 mile west of Durkee, Oregon

294,265

95%

Cow Valley Fire - ORVAD

Oregon

West of Brogan and Northwest of Vale

133,490

99%

Williams Mine Fire-GPNF  - WAGPF

Washington

3.5 miles NNW of Trout Lake WA

13,092

32%

Ruby Fire - WANCP

Washington

On Ruby Mountain in North Cascade National Park by Diablo and Ross Lake, 9 miles East of Newhalem

1,336

0%

Pincer Two Fire - WAMSF

Washington

Johannesburg Mountain. 1 Mile East of Mineral Park Campground

211

0%

Easy Fire - WAOWF

Washington

North Cascades Hwy 20 Corridor, 17 air miles west of Mazama, WA

2,130

36%

Retreat - WASES

Washington

14 miles WSE of Naches, WA

45,601

85%

Lodgepole - WAOWF

Washington

16 miles west of Cliffdell, WA

35

6%

Cougar Creek Fire - WASES

Washington

1 mile west of Hwy 129 and Grand Ronde river intersection

24,091

80%

Kachess Complex  - WAOWF

Washington

12 miles west of Cle Elum drainage

23

NA

Elk Fire 2024 - WYBHF

Wyoming

Bighorn National Forest

79,280

14%

House Draw Fire - WYHPD

Wyoming

9 Mile SE of Buffalo

174,547

94%

Clearwater - WYSHF

Wyoming

11 Miles West of Wapiti, Wyoming

1,966

91%

Pack Trail Fire - WYBTF

Wyoming

2 miles northeast of the confluence of the South Fork and North Fork of Fish Creek

68,337

0%

Leeds Creek - WYBTF

Wyoming

16 Miles Southwest of Dubois, WY

780

75%

Source: Inciweb


Tags: Smoke Forecast 2024