"The fire’s rapid expansion to over 14,000 acres in just four days, combined with the deployment of 109 personnel and a multi-million dollar cost estimate, highlights its significant impact on the region’s resources and emergency response capacity."
The Snow wildfire, located 30 miles east of Miles City in Custer County, Montana, was first discovered on September 3, 2026, and is caused by natural ignition. The incident, managed by the DNRC, grew rapidly from 200 acres at 02:40 UTC to 12,294 acres by the evening of September 4, with a peak of 14,085 acres on September 7. Containment remained at 0% until the evening of September 4, when the fire was declared 100% contained, though a later report on September 5 indicated 0% containment again, before finally reaching 100% containment on September 8. Personnel increased from 30 to 109 firefighters, and estimated costs rose from $25,000 to $3,357,000 as the fire expanded and resources were deployed.
Official source description: 30 Miles E from Miles City, MT
Active; Spotting; Torching
Given the fire’s active behavior and recent containment status, residents in the vicinity should remain vigilant for potential flare-ups and follow any local evacuation orders. General wildfire safety precautions, such as maintaining safe distances from the fire and monitoring official updates, remain essential.
IRWIN ID: {5596F66D-4A3B-410F-BEB5-734F49EA1DF6}
Discovered: Sep 3, 2026
Cause: Natural
Managing Agency: DNRC
Est. Cost to Date: $3,357,000
Coordinates: 46.4858, -105.185
Other wildfires that have recently been contained or dropped from official tracking in MT.
The Snow Fire has burned 14,056 acres as of September 8, 2026.
Yes, the Snow Fire is fully contained (100%).
The official cause has been listed as: Natural.
The Snow Fire is burning in Custer, MT.
Yes, as of the latest official update, the Snow Fire remains active.
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