Montana Wildfires: Skillet Fire Evacuations, Silvertip Fire Growth & What to Know

Published:August 7, 2026 · Reviewed by Ertuğrul Öz, Certified Fire Chief & Training Specialist

Montana is in the middle of one of its most active wildfire stretches this season. A statewide Red Flag Warning, gusty winds up to 50 mph, and heavy timber left behind by a December 2025 windstorm have combined to push fire behavior beyond what crews can fully get ahead of on several fronts at once. On a single day — Saturday, August 1 — 75 separate fires were burning across the state, covering roughly 7,800 acres. Two fires in particular, Skillet and Silvertip, are drawing the most attention right now.

Skillet Fire: Evacuations Near Olney

Aerial water drops have been a key tool against the Skillet Fire's steep, heavily timbered terrain west of Olney.

The Skillet Fire ignited July 29, 2026, in the Tally Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest, about 15 miles west of Olney. It grew explosively in its first days — from roughly 150 acres to more than 1,300 acres in four days — before a statewide Red Flag Warning on August 1 (winds gusting to 50 mph) pushed it further. Flathead County Sheriff Heino issued an evacuation order that day for residents on Good Creek Road, Old Good Creek Road, Gregg Creek Road, and Alder Creek Road, citing an immediate threat to life safety. A specialized interagency team, the Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 7, took command of the response as nearly 180 firefighters converged on the area over the following weekend.

By Wednesday, August 5, the fire had grown to 2,700 acres with more than 360 personnel assigned; crews wrapped the Elk Mountain Lookout in protective material as a precaution. As of the most recent update, the fire stands at roughly 3,089 acres and 6% contained, with 517 personnel on scene. Flathead County has just downgraded the evacuation order to an evacuation warning for part of the affected area — a sign of easing conditions, though officials stress there is no change in status for the general public and forest closure orders remain active. Heavy fuels left behind by a December 2025 windstorm have made parts of the fire area especially difficult and dangerous for crews to access directly.

Silvertip Fire: Montana's Largest, Deep in Wilderness

The Silvertip Fire is currently the largest active wildfire in Montana. Lightning-caused, it was first detected on July 24, 2026, while aircraft were conducting reconnaissance on another reported fire in the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest, roughly 15 miles southeast of the Spotted Bear Ranger Station deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The fire has grown steadily — from about 1,800 acres in its first days to roughly 6,196 acres as of the latest mapping — and remains at 0% containment.

Unlike Skillet, Silvertip is not currently threatening any critical structures or communities — officials say it is not threatening critical values, and the fire is burning in remote, roadless wilderness terrain with heavy timber, standing dead trees, and steep slopes. That remoteness cuts both ways: it keeps people out of harm's way, but it also makes the fire extremely difficult and hazardous for crews to engage directly. Firefighters have instead applied an indirect confinement strategy, focusing on point protection for Pentagon Cabin — the only structure near the fire — including a remote-start pump and a posted lookout to monitor fire behavior. Trail closures are in effect throughout the affected area of the Flathead National Forest.

Other Montana Fires: Contained and Still Burning

Not every fire in the state is trending the wrong direction. The Elder 1 Fire near Frenchtown, which burned about 1,235 acres after a lightning strike on July 24, has reached 100% containment; crews are patrolling the line and mopping up remaining hotspots. The Advent Creek Fire, straddling the Flathead and Kootenai national forests southeast of Trego, is roughly 80% contained as crews reinforce fire lines. Air quality has also improved across the Flathead Valley in the last day, though light-to-moderate smoke from fires in Oregon and Washington continues to drift into the region.

Elsewhere in the state, fires have also prompted a closure of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway near Wisdom and Wise River, driven by the same hot, dry, windy pattern affecting the northwest part of the state. With 118-plus new fire starts in the past week, Montana's fire managers are tracking a wide, fast-moving picture rather than a single incident.

What to Do If You're in the Area

Forest closure orders remain in effect around both the Skillet and Silvertip fires even as some evacuation levels ease.

• ✓Check your exact address against current Flathead County evacuation zone status rather than assuming a downgrade applies to you — orders and warnings are issued street by street.
• ✓Sign up for Flathead County Emergency Alerts at the county's Genasys portal for real-time notifications tied to your address.
• ✓Respect forest and trail closures around both fires — they're in place for firefighter and public safety, not just as a precaution.
• ✓Under an evacuation warning, stay ready to leave — gather people, pets, medications, and important documents now rather than waiting for an order.
• ✗Don't treat a downgrade from order to warning as an all-clear — conditions can still shift quickly under continued dry, windy weather.

Where to Get Live Updates

• Flathead County Office of Emergency Services — official evacuation zone status and alerts for the Skillet Fire.
• InciWeb (inciweb.wildfire.gov) — official federal incident pages for both the Skillet Fire and Silvertip Fire.
• Montana DNRC Interactive Fire Map — statewide fire activity, acreage, and containment.
• Watch Duty — real-time fire perimeter and evacuation tracking for both fires.
• AirNow.gov — current air quality for the Flathead Valley and surrounding areas.

We'll update this article as containment improves and evacuation levels change.