Sand Creek Fire (MT)
True color
Fire (SWIR)
Infrared / SWIR (right): sees through smoke.
🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 red/brown = burned
🟠 orange = active fire
Imagery: Sentinel-2 (Copernicus). Drag to compare smoke vs. infrared.
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Quick facts
- Location
- 5 Miles E from Wisdom, MT
- Personnel
- 12
- Complexity
- Type 3 Incident
- Fuel
- Timber (Grass and Understory)
- Behavior
- Active, Short Crown Runs, Spotting
- Jurisdiction
- USFS · Federal land
Spreading across the timber, grass, and understory of Beaverhead County, Montana, the active Sand Creek Fire is burning five miles east of Wisdom at an average daily growth rate of 500 acres per day since it started on August 1, 2026. Satellites have registered 20 heat detections near the incident over the past 48 hours, highlighting the ongoing footprint of the blaze as it enters its second day. Driven by active fire behavior, short crown runs, and spotting, the 1,000-acre wildfire is managed by a Type 3 Incident Commander with 12 USFS personnel assigned to the federal land.
The Sand Creek Fire unfolds within the region's typical June to October fire season. Nationally, the broader context shows 2,528,284 hectares burned so far in 2026, marking a figure that sits 54% below the two-decade average. Operations on the ground carry an estimated cost of $5,000 as the Type 3 incident remains zero percent contained.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in Montana for 2 days. So far it has affected roughly 1,000 acres — about 4.0 km². Crews report no containment yet, so the fire can still spread.
In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.
The bigger picture in United States
Across United States, roughly 2,528,284 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 54% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
We'll email you if it grows, containment advances, or it ends.
No account. One-click unsubscribe. · Privacy
Community reports
Reports from people near the fire · unverified
Not official emergency information. In an emergency, contact fire services/authorities.
More fires in Montana
- Silvertip FireActive
- Ant Park FireActive
- Bobcat Lakes FireActive
- Middle Coulee FireActive