Smoke Forecast for Thursday, August 6, 2026 9:30 AM
Current Conditions
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Granite, Lake, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, and Missoula counties in effect until 9AM on 08/07/2026.
Moderating temperatures on Tuesday allowed numerous regional wildfires to expand.
Wednesday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires were burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains. The Bobcat Lakes Fire has burned more than 2,700 acres and the Sand Creek Fire has burned over 1,600 acres. An incident meteorologist was ordered for the Bobcat Lakes Fire to provide additional support on that blaze. The Moose Fire, burning in the Sapphire Mountains between Georgetown Lake and the Bitterroot Valley, exhibited active fire behavior Tuesday afternoon. It has burned over 1,000 acres. The Skillet Fire was active again on Wednesday. It’s burning along the Flathead and Lincoln County line between Highway 93 and Lake Koocanusa. It has burned more almost 3,000 acres. There are also several active fires burning on the Idaho side of the border in the Bitterroot Mountains. These fires will keep skies smoky over Ravalli, Mineral, and Missoula Counties through at least this weekend.
At 9:00 AM Thursday, particulate levels in Libby, Cut Bank, Columbia Falls, and Frenchtown are Unhealhty for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Havre, Butte, Great Falls, Hamilton, Missoula, Helena, Sleeping Giant, Dillon, Bozeman, Billings, Missoula and Thompson Falls are Moderate.
By Friday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows areas of heavy smoke covering much of the western half of the state.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Air Quality Alerts were issues for the western third of the state through Friday morning. These are the counties where air quality will be the worst. A ridge of high pressure will build over Montana through Friday. Afternoon highs will warm well into the 90s under this pattern. The combination of unseasonably warm air, low humidity, and gusty winds will allow regional wildfires to continue to expand.
Surface concentrations of wildfire smoke will continue to wax and wane under this pattern. The usual diurnal cycles can be expected with smoke draining and pooling overnight, leading to deteriorating air quality each morning. Temperature inversions will help trap the smoke close to the surface. As the ridge of high pressure breaks down on Saturday, ventilation will increase, leading to more active fire behavior.
Confidence in a major pattern shift to our weather remains low, the kind of shift that would be required to end this smoky cycle and provide widespread rainfall. At the very least, monsoonal moisture will surge north into the Treasure State starting early next week. This will bring a gradual uptick in humidity levels for the area. Stay tuned!
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.
Smoke remains visible across much of the state early Thursday from regional wildfires.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 2614 | 41% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 580 | 0% |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 147418 | 53% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 2000 | NA |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | NA | 10 | 0% |
| Chimney Fire | Idaho | 9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID | 6521 | 80% |
| Claremont Fire | Idaho | 1 mile NE of Boise, Idaho | 6606 | 90% |
| Duncan | Idaho | 50 Miles SW of Mountain Home, ID | 16362 | 70% |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6221 | NA |
| Moose | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 1002 | 0% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 1400 | NA |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 2870 | 3% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 1829 | 0% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana, United States | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 75 | 0% |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana, United States | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 33 | 0% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana, United States | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 0% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 344834 | 64% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105464 | 76% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 309803 | 70% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 358911 | 39% |
| Burnt Creek Fire - | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 4169 | 80% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1426 | 79% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 78% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 78079 | 55% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 2995 | 48% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17488 | 89% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 70806 | 53% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 39439 | 20% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 79008 | 62% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Bob Creek Fire | Oregon | 1 mile north of Oxbow, OR | 851 | 72% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 67071 | 84% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 27491 | 99% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 40803 | 11% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 860 | 98% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 1664 | NA |
| Hat Fire | Oregon | 40 Miles East of Burns, OR | 44122 | 99% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2425 | 96% |
| Hay Creek Complex | Oregon | Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties, Oregon | 200292 | 97% |
| Anthony Fire | Oregon | 34 miles north of Baker City, OR | 2585 | 89% |
| Stubble | Oregon | 15 Miles SW of Lawen, OR | 15673 | 87% |
| Crater | Oregon | 35 Miles S of Burns, OR | 745 | 93% |
| Egypt Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles N of Riley, OR | 4595 | 68% |
| North Cayuse Fire | Oregon | 15 miles east of Pendleton, OR. | 4887 | 91% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 254 | 83% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | Nineteen miles northwest of Davenport, WA. | 4460 | 66% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 5865 | 12% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4424 | 44% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 10436 | NA |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 120692 | 20% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles north of Newhalem, WA | 1390 | 0% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 53750 | 39% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 74284 | 1% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 136887 | 43% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 6433 | 0% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 17297 | 0% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast