Smoke Forecast for Saturday, August 8, 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, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Park, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Powell, Sanders counties in effect until 9AM on 08/09/2026
An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the smoke event across central and western Montana due to local and regional wildfires.
Friday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires continued burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains. The Bobcat Lakes Fire has burned more than 5,500 acres. The Sand Creek Fire has grown quickly over the last 48-hours, burning close to 9,000 acres. The Moose Fire, burning in the Sapphire Mountains between Georgetown Lake and the Bitterroot Valley, exhibited active fire behavior again on Friday. It has burned nearly 3,500 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 and Dillon are Unhealthy. Particulate levels in Billings, Butte, Cut Bank, Frenchtown, Great Falls, Hamilton and Libby are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Helena, Lewistown, Missoula, Sleeping Giant and Thompson Falls are Moderate.
By Sunday 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 Sunday morning. A large ridge of high pressure will provide hot and dry conditions through early next week. The combination of near-record warmth, low humidity, and gusty winds will produce critical fire weather conditions. Numerous active fires burning in Oregon and Washington will remain the big contributors to smoke across Montana. However, two large fires burning in the Pioneer Mountains will send additional smoke to downwind communities like Bozeman, Twin Bridges, and Whitehall in the coming days.
Monsoonal moisture begins moving into Montana starting early next week. It will introduce small chances for isolated thunderstorms. Dry fuels and gusty winds could lead to additional ignitions from any dry thunderstorms. The increasing moisture will be accompanied by cooler, more seasonable temperatures.
To end this smoke event and suppress fire activity, there would need to be a major pattern shift to our weather, including a widespread soaking rainfall. Unfortunately, the chances of this occurring are still small. However, there are signs of some beneficial precipitation falling on much of the state during the second half of next week. If this verifies, it will help to temporarily ease fire behavior and limit smoke production. 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 Saturday from regional wildfires.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 2736 | 45% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 646 | 0% |
| Lake | Idaho | 4 Miles NE of Secesh, ID | 100 | 0% |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | NA | 75 | 0% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 3298 | NA |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 147418 | 53% |
| 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 | 1292 | 5% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Moose | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 3544 | 0% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3089 | 8% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 5257 | 1% |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 4807 | 0% |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6221 | NA |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 225 | 0% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 67 | 10% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 20% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 860 | 98% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105464 | 77% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308720 | 82% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76134 | 67% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | NA | 19290 | 0% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 364413 | 76% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 466326 | 41% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 3612 | 67% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 49645 | 23% |
| 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 | 73050 | 70% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 67071 | 86% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1433 | 88% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 79002 | 63% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 4169 | 87% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 42699 | 11% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 2565 | 0% |
| 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% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 5850 | 42% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4424 | 76% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | Nineteen miles northwest of Davenport, WA. | 4462 | 92% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 10332 | NA |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 82758 | 1% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 126940 | 28% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 500 | 0% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 56036 | 57% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 137616 | 54% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 3583 | 0% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 8388 | 0% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 17279 | 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 | NA | 9861 | 95% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast