"The Pine Creek fire’s rapid growth to 2,000 acres in less than 24 hours and subsequent containment challenges highlight the volatility of wildfires in the region, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring and resource allocation."
The Pine Creek wildfire, located 30 miles southeast of Terry, MT in Prairie County, was first reported on September 3, 2026, and is managed by the BLM. The fire rapidly expanded from 150 acres at 04:00 to 2,000 acres by 00:40 on September 4, before shrinking to 933 acres by the evening of September 4 and remaining at that size through September 6. Containment progressed from 50% on September 4 to 100% by 23:00 that day, then fell to 50% and 51% in the following days as the fire behavior remained moderate and flanking. Personnel numbers stabilized at 20 firefighters, and the estimated cost rose from $100,000 to $130,000 as the situation evolved. The fire’s behavior shifted from active flanking to moderate flanking, reflecting changing weather and suppression efforts.
Official source description: 30 Miles SE from Terry, MT
Moderate; Flanking
With the fire currently moderate and flanking, maintain standard wildfire safety precautions: stay informed of local advisories, avoid outdoor activities in the fire’s vicinity, and be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen.
IRWIN ID: {75E01C93-4696-4BDF-8FF7-EEF39469AE5E}
Discovered: Sep 3, 2026
Cause: Natural
Managing Agency: BLM
Est. Cost to Date: $130,000
Coordinates: 46.6217, -104.7684
Other wildfires that have recently been contained or dropped from official tracking in MT.
The Pine Creek Fire has burned 933 acres as of September 6, 2026.
As of the latest update, the Pine Creek Fire is 51% contained.
The official cause has been listed as: Natural.
The Pine Creek Fire is burning in Prairie, MT.
Yes, as of the latest official update, the Pine Creek Fire remains active.
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