Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Wildland Fire Information

10/21/2026

📣The Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF is outreaching for numerous temporary seasonal wildland firefighting positions. Announcements for these seasonal positions for the 2027 fire year OPEN on on October 30th.

📝Submit applications online before the announcements CLOSE on November 12, 2026.

🔥Specialized positions include dispatch, engine crews, hand crews, and helitack. Positions range from GW-03 to GW-07.

📞The B-D seasonal positions are in several locations across the Forest. Specific information about the position(s) and duty location(s) on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF is available from the unit contacts.

Butte District: Kevin Smith 406-491-0202
Dillon District: Aaron Knudson 775-846-3056
Wisdom District: Richard Griffin 406-925-1951
WR Helitack: Randy Gilbert 406-925-3779
Madison District: Jim King 406-682-4253
Pintler District: Jerod Russell 208-946-6803
Dillon Dispatch: Claire Smith 406-683-3992






Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

10/19/2026

🔥Prescribed Fire Operations
Week of October 19, 2026

🔥Fire officials on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest may implement prescribed burning operations this week, as weather and fuels conditions allow. Fire officials will closely monitor weather conditions prior to ignitions.
POTENTIAL project areas include the following:

📍Red Rocks Project - The targeted unit is located 5 miles south of Bernice along the Kit Carson Rd (FS 442). Fire crews plan to burn approximately 20 acres.

💨Smoke may be visible from adjacent communities and along roadways during prescribed fire operations. Smoke tends to pool in lower elevations and along roadways during the evenings and early morning hours, so motorists should take note during those times.

🚙Drivers should slow down and turn on headlights if smoke is present. Go to www.airnow.gov to find more detailed information about air quality.

For a complete list of prescribed fire and pile burn locations, project and unit maps, and other project information, visit the Forest’s Prescribed Fire Inciweb page. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbdf-beaverheaddeerlodge-nf-prescribed-fire-operations




Butte-Silver Bow Emergency Management
Jefferson County Montana Sheriff's Office

10/13/2026

🔥Prescribed Fire Operations
Week of October 12, 2026

🔥Fire officials on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest may implement prescribed burning operations this week, as weather and fuels conditions allow. Fire officials will closely monitor weather conditions prior to ignitions.

POTENTIAL project areas include the following:
📍Red Rocks Project - The targeted unit is located 5 miles south of Bernice along the Kit Carson Rd (FS 442). Fire crews plan to burn approximately 20 acres.

💨Smoke may be visible from adjacent communities and along roadways during prescribed fire operations. Smoke tends to pool in lower elevations and along roadways during the evenings and early morning hours, so motorists should take note during those times.

🚙Drivers should slow down and turn on headlights if smoke is present. Go to www.airnow.gov to find more detailed information about air quality.

For a complete list of prescribed fire and pile burn locations, project and unit maps, and other project information, visit the Forest’s Prescribed Fire Inciweb page. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbdf-beaverheaddeerlodge-nf-prescribed-fire-operations?fbclid=IwY2xjawU7UZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMWVRT21vOGtqRGFDS0tOMzJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeK-f0MicjX26NX9kKJoWOrBcnDW1l_sjHutMDc0VTJw_of8ieq3Of-6pafE8_aem_meQLJExxu4iTjw83SKs1cA




Butte-Silver Bow Emergency Management
Jefferson County Montana Sheriff's Office

10/09/2026

‼️Closure Update

All road and trail closures associated with the BOBCAT LAKES & SAND CREEK FIRES have been rescinded.

All existing route and area restrictions are in effect.





Granite County Sheriff's Office
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

10/05/2026

🔥Prescribed Fire Operations
Week of October 5, 2026

🔥Fire officials on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest may implement prescribed burning operations this week, as weather and fuels conditions allow. Fire officials will closely monitor weather conditions prior to ignitions.

POTENTIAL project areas include the following:

PINTLER RANGER DISTRICT:
📍East Deer Lodge Project - The targeted unit is located 16 miles northeast of Anaconda on the east side of Interstate 90 and along Forest Service Road 5165. Fire crews plan to burn approximately 260 acres.

📍Flint Foothills Project – The targeted units are located 11 miles southeast of Drummond adjacent to Forest Service Road 5023. Fire crews plan to burn approximately 170 acres.

📍Maywood Project – The targeted units are located 3 miles southeast of Maxville. Fire crews plan to burn approximately 42 acres in two separate units.

📍Gold Coin Project – The targeted unit is located 2 miles west of Maxville. Fire crews plan to burn approximately 68 acres.

📍Lone Pine Crow Project – The targeted unit is located 17 miles southwest of Philipsburg. Fire crews plan to burn approximately 223 acres.

💨Smoke may be visible from adjacent communities and along roadways during prescribed fire operations. Smoke tends to pool in lower elevations and along roadways during the evenings and early morning hours, so motorists should take note during those times.

🚙Drivers should slow down and turn on headlights if smoke is present. Go to www.airnow.gov to find more detailed information about air quality.

For a complete list of prescribed fire and pile burn locations, project and unit maps, and other project information, visit the Forest’s Prescribed Fire Inciweb page.
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbdf-beaverheaddeerlodge-nf-prescribed-fire-operations




Granite County Sheriff's Office
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center

10/03/2026

🔥FINAL Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fire Update – October 3, 2026 🔥
Incident Commander: Jon Norman
Total Personnel for Both Fires: 45
🔥 Bobcat Lakes
Location: 13 miles SW of Wise River
Start Date: 7/31/26
Containment: 95%
Size: 10,896 acres
🔥 Sand Creek
Location: 7.5 miles SE of Wisdom
Start Date: 8/1/26
Containment: 92%
Size: 35,520 acres
ℹ️ HIGHLIGHTS: Progress on suppression and suppression repair goals on the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires has led to increased containment and the transfer of command to a type 4 organization. Please direct all further inquiries to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All area closures associated with Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires are now lifted with the exception of Grasshopper Campground and Steel-Fox Road (FSR #2420).
Hazards are present in the fire area. Watch out for unstable dead trees, loose rocks, and falling logs, as well as hidden burned-out stump holes. Ash and needles can make roadways slippery, and burned areas are vulnerable to sudden flash flooding and debris flows.
ℹ️ CURRENT STATUS / ACTIONS:
🔥 Sand Creek Fire: Suppression repair operations within the fire perimeter are now entering their final stages. Excavators have successfully reclaimed indirect dozer lines, pulling back soil and debris to promote natural recovery and prevent erosion. Heavy equipment operators are utilizing graders to complete rebuilding and restoration efforts on Steel-Fox Road (Forest Road 2420). When this work is completed, it will conclude the scheduled rehabilitation work to repair infrastructure used during firefighting operations.
🔥 Bobcat Lakes Fire: Firefighters remain in the area to monitor the fire as repair of suppression-related control lines finishes up. No further updates will be issued.
🚁 Aircraft are available to support firefighters with water/retardant drops, reconnaissance flights & personnel transport.
💨 WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Expect partly sunny skies and warmer temperatures in the mid 60s for the next several days. Winds will be 3-6. Warmer weather conditions may produce visible smoke inside containment lines. Please do not report.
🚧 CLOSURES:
All area closures associated with Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes have been lifted except Steel-Fox Road (FSR #2420) and Grasshopper Campground. See the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF website for details.
📸Photo Credit: Big Hole Type 3 Incident Management Team. Successful suppression efforts by firefighters on the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires protected many structures, including the Tyro House in Coolidge, Oct. 2, 2026.


Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

🔥 Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires 🔥
Incident Commander: Paul Diaz
Total Personnel for Both Fires: 53
🔥 Bobcat Lakes
Location: 13 miles SW of Wise River
Start Date: 7/31/26
Containment: 95%
Size: 10,896 acres
🔥 Sand Creek
Location: 7.5 miles SE of Wisdom
Start Date: 8/1/26
Containment: 87%
Size: 35,520 acres
ℹ️ HIGHLIGHTS: The Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway is open for all public access. General area closures for the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires are lifted as of Tuesday, September 29th.
For public safety, Steel-Fox Road is closed while crews and heavy equipment complete essential road repairs and Grasshopper Campground is closed while repairs are underway.
Hazards are present in the fire area. Watch out for unstable dead trees, loose rocks, and falling logs, as well as hidden burned-out stump holes. Ash and needles can make roadways slippery, and burned areas are vulnerable to flash flooding and debris flows.
ℹ️ CURRENT STATUS / ACTIONS:
🔥 Sand Creek Fire: Along Steel-Fox Road (Forest Road 2420) and in the Steel Creek Area, excavators are reclaiming indirect dozer lines, while heavy equipment operators use graders to improve roads.
🔥 Bobcat Lakes Fire: Firefighters remain on-site to patrol the perimeter, monitor containment, and repair control lines created during suppression efforts.
🚁 Aircraft are available to support firefighters with water/retardant drops, reconnaissance flights & personnel transport.
💨 WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Expect partly sunny skies and warmer temperatures in the mid 50s and low 60s for the next several days. Winds will be 5-10 mph with gusts up to 25. Weather conditions will likely produce visible smoke inside containment lines. Please do not report.
🚧 CLOSURES:
All area closures associated with Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes have been lifted except Steel-Fox Road (FSR #2420) and Grasshopper Campground. See https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/beaverhead-deerlodge for details.


Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office

09/29/2026

🔥 Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires 🔥
Incident Commander: Paul Diaz
Total Personnel for Both Fires: 64
🔥 Bobcat Lakes
Location: 13 miles SW of Wise River
Start Date: 7/31/26
Containment: 91%
Size: 10,896 acres
🔥 Sand Creek
Location: 7.5 miles SE of Wisdom
Start Date: 8/1/26
Containment: 83%
Size: 35,520 acres
ℹ️ HIGHLIGHTS: Beaverhead County has lifted the closure on the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway (FSR #73), reopening the byway to public access. Effective at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, the Forest Service has rescinded the area closure; however, Steel-Fox Road (FSR #2420) remains closed to the public for safety reasons, as heavy equipment and firefighters continue to work in the area. The Bureau of Land Management has also rescinded the area closure associated with the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires.
Hazards are present in the fire area. Watch out for unstable dead trees, loose rocks, and falling logs, as well as hidden burned-out stump holes. Ash and needles can make roadways slippery, and burned areas are vulnerable to sudden flash flooding and debris flows.
ℹ️ CURRENT STATUS / ACTIONS:
🔥 Sand Creek Fire: Crews continue along Steel-Fox Road (Forest Road 2420) and in the Steel Creek Area are finishing up chipping and groundwork to prepare for road grading. Within the burned area, excavators are fixing indirect dozer lines while heavy equipment operators and graders restore damaged roads. Personnel continue removing hazard trees and clearing debris to pave the way for upcoming grading operations.
🔥 Bobcat Lakes Fire: Crews continue to patrol and monitor the fire perimeter, while firefighters work on rehabilitating control lines.
🚁 Aircraft are available to support firefighters with water/retardant drops, reconnaissance flights & personnel transport.
💨 WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Expect partly sunny skies and warmer temperatures in the 50s and 60s for the next several days. Winds will NW 5-8 mph with 20 mph gusts. This weather will likely cause visible smoke inside the fire lines—there is no need to report it.
🚧 CLOSURES:
All area closures associated with Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes have been lifted except the Steel-Fox Road closure (FSR #2420) See https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/beaverhead-deerlodge for details about any closures in effect for National Forest System area, roads, and trails.


Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office

09/29/2026

‼ Closure Update

Forest Service and Beaverhead County officials have modified various closures associated with the BOBCAT LAKES and SAND CREEK fires, EFFECTIVE at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29th.

The Forest Service has rescinded the large area closure; one FS road remains closed.

🚧The Steel-Fox Road (FSR # 2420) is CLOSED to the public for safety reasons. Numerous pieces of heavy equipment and firefighters continue to work in this area.

Beaverhead County has lifted the closure on the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway (FSR #73). The Byway will OPEN to public access.

HAZARDS exist in recently burned areas. For your safety, be aware of the following:
ℹ Unstable dead trees
ℹ Loose rocks and logs
ℹ Burned stump holes
ℹ Ash and needles on roads
ℹ Flash flooding and mud flows

Since conditions in a burned forest tend to change constantly, it is important to be remain alert!

Visit the Forest website to view specific descriptions of the road closure.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/beaverhead-deerlodge/alerts




Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office