"The fire’s rapid growth from 140 to over 2,100 acres in just ten days, combined with the high cost escalation and sustained personnel deployment, highlights its significant impact on the local environment and resources."
The Black Bear wildfire, located 15 miles east of Hamilton, MT in Ravalli County, was first discovered on August 2, 2026. By August 10 the fire had expanded rapidly to 1,469 acres, and continued to grow to 2,126 acres by mid‑August, with a peak of 2,145 acres on August 15. Containment remained at 0% until August 11, when 10% containment was achieved, and it has slowly increased to 30% as of September 6. The United States Forest Service is the jurisdictional agency, and the fire is classified as natural. Current behavior is minimal, creeping and backing, with no reported evacuations. Personnel have ranged from 21 to 46, and estimated costs have risen from $68,000 to $1,438,403 over the timeline.
Official source description: 15 Miles E from Hamilton, MT
Minimal; Single Tree Torching; Backing
Good air quality. Outdoor activity is generally safe near this incident.
Nearest reporting station: Hamilton. Source: AirNow.gov (EPA).
With the fire now minimal and creeping, general wildfire safety precautions apply: stay clear of the fire perimeter, monitor local updates, and be prepared to evacuate if conditions change.
IRWIN ID: {98BCEEFD-1E76-40E6-9352-54FD64F60E7D}
Discovered: Aug 2, 2026
Cause: Natural
Managing Agency: USFS
Est. Cost to Date: $1,438,403
Coordinates: 46.168, -113.8895
Other wildfires that have recently been contained or dropped from official tracking in MT.
The Black Bear Fire has burned 2,126 acres as of September 6, 2026.
As of the latest update, the Black Bear Fire is 30% contained.
The official cause has been listed as: Natural.
The Black Bear Fire is burning in Ravalli, MT.
Yes, as of the latest official update, the Black Bear Fire remains active.
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