"The Windmill fire expanded rapidly, reaching over 4,200 acres within 35 hours, and required a substantial firefighting effort, including 159 personnel and nearly $3 million in estimated costs, before achieving full containment."
The Windmill wildfire, located 9 miles north of Reed Point in Stillwater County, Montana, was first discovered on August 19, 2026. The fire grew from 800 acres to 4,253 acres over the course of a month, with containment progressing from 0% to 100% by August 24. Early reports described active, moderate, and wind‑driven behavior, while later updates noted minimal, smoldering activity. Personnel peaked at 159, and estimated costs rose from $100,000 to $2,900,000 as the fire was fully contained. The incident remains under the jurisdiction of the National Interagency Fire Center, with no specific local agency listed.
Official source description: 9 Miles N from Reed Point, MT
Minimal; Smoldering; Creeping
The fire is now fully contained and exhibiting minimal, smoldering behavior; standard wildfire safety precautions remain advised, but no immediate evacuation or fire danger restrictions are necessary.
IRWIN ID: {F435AECD-16AC-4317-B053-0507F0D8AC84}
Discovered: Aug 19, 2026
Cause: Natural
Est. Cost to Date: $2,900,000
Coordinates: 45.8358, -109.5235
Other wildfires that have recently been contained or dropped from official tracking in MT.
The Windmill Fire has burned 4,253 acres as of August 24, 2026.
Yes, the Windmill Fire is fully contained (100%).
The official cause has been listed as: Natural.
The Windmill Fire is burning in Stillwater, MT.
Yes, as of the latest official update, the Windmill Fire remains active.
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