Montana’s McAllister Fire Explodes to Over 3,500 Acres

Montanans know how quickly fire season can turn dangerous, and the McAllister Fire is a fresh reminder of that reality. Sparked by lightning on August 16, the fire is burning about three miles south of Norris and three miles north of Ennis Lake. As of now, the fire has grown to an estimated 3,500+ acres with zero percent containment.

Evacuation Warnings in Place

According to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), an evacuation warning has been issued for anyone living between Bradley Creek, Shining Mountains West, and U.S. Highway 287 between mile markers 61 and 64. That means residents need to stay alert and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if conditions change. For many families, that means bags packed, livestock prepared, and hearts heavy with worry.

Fire Behavior Through the Night

The fire immediately showed extreme fire behavior, torching trees and racing across the landscape. Overnight on Saturday, the fire’s intensity prompted the closure of Highway 287 north of McAllister and led to the evacuation warnings that remain in place. Cooler morning air and a touch of moisture on Sunday slowed things down, which allowed Highway 287 to reopen but the risk isn’t over.

Where the Fire Is Burning

The McAllister Fire is currently chewing through private, state, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. The fuels here are mostly open grasslands dotted with small clumps of trees, a combination that can make a fire run fast when the wind picks up. Crews are working hard to get ahead of it, focusing on bulldozer lines, handlines, and water drops from helicopters and a scooper aircraft.

Resources on the Ground

Firefighters have two type 2 helicopters, a scooper plane, one hand crew, two bulldozers, a grader, and numerous engines working the blaze. Today’s cooler weather which calls for the chance of some rain, will hopefully give crews the edge they need to keep the fire from spreading further.

Gratitude in the Face of Fire

First responders have expressed their deep appreciation to local landowners who have stepped up to help during the initial attack. In rural Montana, neighbors looking out for one another is often the difference in emergencies like this.