Smoke Forecast for Friday, August 7, 2026 9:30 AM
Current Conditions
Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Park, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Powell, Sanders counties in effect until 9AM on 08/08/2026
Regional wildfires continue to expand across Montana and the Pacific Northwest, spreading smoke across the state.
Thursday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires continued 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 again on Thursday. It has burned nearly 1,600 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. However, the bulk of the smoke over Montana is the result of massive wildfires burning in Oregon and Washington.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Columbia Falls, Dillon and Libby are Unhealthy. Particulate levels in Butte, Frenchtown, Hamilton, Helena, Missoula and Thompson Falls are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Billings, Great Falls and Sleeping Giant are Moderate.
By Saturday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows areas of heavy smoke covering parts of the state.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Air Quality Alerts were issued for the western third of the state through Saturday morning. Wildfires will remain active on numerous Montana wildfires in the coming days. However, the bulk of the smoke over Montana continues to be the result of massive wildfires burning over Washington and Oregon. A ridge of high pressure will linger over the Northern Rockies through early next week, producing unseasonably warm temperatures. The ridge weakens on Saturday, allowing winds to increase. The combination of near-record warmth, gusty winds, and drying vegetation will create critical fire weather conditions Friday and Saturday.
Inversions will continue to trap smoke in the valleys overnight and into the morning the next several days, especially over western Montana. By mid-morning, these inversions will break up, allowing for better mixing and improving air quality. However, these winds will also increase fire activity on regional wildfires.
Monsoonal moisture returns early next week, bringing chances for beneficial precipitation. However, the threat for dry thunderstorms will also increase the risk for new ignitions with critically dry fuels. Moisture will gradually increase by the end of next week, increasing the chances for a soaking rainfall. A major pattern shift to our weather will be required to substantially reduce fire activity and curtail smoke production. Unfortunately, the chance of this happening remains low. 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 Friday from regional wildfires.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 2614 | 45% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 2800 | NA |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | NA | 25 | 0% |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 147418 | 53% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 580 | 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% |
| Double Springs Fire | Idaho | 31 miles Northwest of Mackay , ID | 1094 | 0% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3089 | 6% |
| Moose | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 2294 | 0% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 5257 | NA |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 4336 | 0% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6221 | NA |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 75 | 0% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 0% |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 33 | 0% |
| Bob Creek Fire | Oregon | 1 mile north of Oxbow, OR | 851 | 72% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 344834 | 64% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 43244 | 23% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 79003 | 63% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1433 | 86% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105464 | 77% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 309645 | 75% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76134 | 55% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 4169 | 84% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 442316 | 39% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 2995 | 48% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 860 | 98% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 1664 | 0% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 40803 | 11% |
| 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% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | NA | 2224 | 0% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 67071 | 84% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 27491 | 99% |
| 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% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 17279 | 0% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 56036 | 60% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 1410 | 0% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | Nineteen miles northwest of Davenport, WA. | 4462 | 92% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4424 | 79% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 5892 | 48% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 136978 | 53% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 126807 | 26% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 10436 | NA |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 77509 | 1% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 6433 | 0% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 254 | 83% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast