Severe Weather History


Montana Wildfire History: 269 Recorded Events

269

Recorded events

31

Counties affected

1

Direct deaths

$26.1M

Property damage

Montana wildfire history: 269 recorded events across 31 counties between 1996 and 2026.

Decade by decade

Montana wildfire history by decade

Montana wildfire history: recorded events per decade
Montana wildfire history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 54 reported wildfire events across Montana. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most wildfire events in Montana

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Beaverhead County60$30K2000–2000
#2Lewis and Clark County50$5.0M2000–2000
#3Garfield County40$2.9M2003–2003
#4Teton County40$02000–2000
#5Judith Basin County40$02000–2001
#6Gallatin County40$320K2000–2003
#7Park County30$02001–2001
#8Ravalli County20$02000–2003
#9Petroleum County20$02003–2003
#10Roosevelt County20$5.0M1999–2003
#11Mineral County20$02003–2003
#12Stillwater County20$55K2001–2002
#13Phillips County20$02003–2003
#14Missoula County20$250K2003–2003
#15Sweet Grass County20$01998–1998
#16Sanders County10$02003–2003
#17Blaine County10$02000–2000
#18Meagher County10$01996–1996
#19Dawson County10$02003–2003
#20Sheridan County10$6.0M1999–1999
#21Jefferson County10$02000–2000
#22Carbon County10$525K1998–1998
#23Valley County10$02003–2003
#24Flathead County10$02003–2003
#25Carter County10$02002–2002
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

All hazards in Montana · Wildfire across the U.S.