Update: Information About Montana’s First Big Wildfire of 2025

UPDATE (May 7, 2025):

Crews continue to battle the Sawlog Fire, but cooler temperatures combined with precipitation have slowed the fire's growth. Fire behavior is expected to pick up as warmer and drier weather is forecasted over the next few days. The size of the Sawlog Fire has been reduced to 1,412 acres (due to accurate mapping), and is currently 10% contained.

READ MORE: One Of The First Things People Notice In Montana

Fire season is off to an early start in Montana. Here are details about a new wildfire that's burning in the state.

A wildfire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that was reported on May 1 has grown to 1,500 acres. The fire is located west of Wise River and northeast of Wisdom in the Sawlog Creek drainage.

Before we give you the latest information of Montana's first wildfire of 2025, here are a few ways that you can help prevent wildfires in Montana.

High Winds and Dry Grass Fuel Early Wildfire in Montana

Crews continue to fight the Sawlog Fire. The fire was initially estimated at 50-70 acres, burning on the south side of the Big Hole River. Immediate access to the fire area was somewhat limited, given the time of year with the snow melt and high water conditions in the river.

The fire is burning in sagebrush and lodgepole pine timber. Cooler temperatures should help firefighters contain the blaze on Montana. As of now, the fire is only 5% contained. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The fire has exhibited moderate to extreme fire behavior, with 3 to 5-foot flame lengths in the sagebrush and isolated torching, group torching, and crown runs through the tops of the trees in the timbered areas.

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When winds have aligned with the orientation of drainages, fire behavior has been extreme. Fuel conditions, during this time of year (pre-green up), are extremely dry.

Wildfires are common in Montana, but not in the beginning of May. Here is the latest update regarding the fire.

The fire is located between the Sawlog Creek and Toomey Creek drainages, on the south side of the Big Hole River. The fire footprint from the 2021 Christensen Fire is located to the south, and the fire footprint from the 2021 Alder Fire is located to the east.

The Inciweb website is a great resource if you'd like to stay updated on wildfires burning around Montana.