Montana Wildfire Risk Map
Montana's western forests — around Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley, and the Flathead — see large, fast-moving fires each summer as drought lengthens the season.
Reviewed by Tom Hunt, Wildfire Risk Expert
Check any Montana address — free
Fire locations come from NIFC — they update about once a day and are not real-time. In an emergency, always follow the official orders from your local authorities. Basemap © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap.
Montana live wildfire map
Active wildfires across Montana — perimeters and incident flames straight from NIFC, updated automatically. Tap any city or county marker to open its detailed fire risk report, or enter your exact address for a free street-level risk score.
See the live Montana active fire map →When is fire season in Montana?
Montana's fire season peaks July through September and is worst in drought. Western Montana's forests burn at large scale, and mountain valleys trap smoke for weeks.
See Montana's major wildfires →How Montana wildfire risk is rated: FEMA's National Risk Index
The federal benchmark for Montana is FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI), which scores wildfire risk for every U.S. county and Census tract. Each place gets one of five relative ratings — Very Low, Relatively Low, Relatively Moderate, Relatively High, or Very High — describing its risk compared with all other places at the same level nationwide.
A community's wildfire rating combines three things: how much fire damage is expected each year (Expected Annual Loss), how vulnerable the population is (Social Vulnerability), and how well it can recover (Community Resilience). For wildfire specifically, FEMA weighs a community’s exposure, fire frequency, and historic loss ratio. Wildfire is one of 18 natural hazards the NRI tracks.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index — Wildfire ↗. A county or tract rating is a starting point — your individual home's score depends on its exact location, terrain, and construction.
Montana cities
Montana counties
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Montana wildfire risk — frequently asked
How high is wildfire risk in Montana?
Montana's western forests — around Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley, and the Flathead — see large, fast-moving fires each summer as drought lengthens the season. Check your exact MT address for a free 0–100 wildfire risk score.
When is wildfire season in Montana?
Montana's fire season peaks July through September and is worst in drought. Western Montana's forests burn at large scale, and mountain valleys trap smoke for weeks.
Which Montana counties have the highest wildfire risk?
Montana counties with detailed wildfire risk profiles include Missoula County, Flathead County, Gallatin County, Ravalli County, Lewis and Clark County. Open any county for its hazard rating, recorded fire history, and federal Risk-to-Homes data.
How does FEMA rate wildfire risk in Montana?
FEMA's National Risk Index scores wildfire risk for every U.S. county and Census tract and assigns one of five relative ratings — Very Low, Relatively Low, Relatively Moderate, Relatively High, or Very High. A Montana community's wildfire rating reflects its expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience, weighing fire exposure, frequency, and historic loss ratio. Source: FEMA National Risk Index (hazards.fema.gov/nri/wildfire).
Is fire insurance hard to get in Montana?
In high-risk Montana areas, wildfire hazard drives higher premiums and non-renewals. See the Montana fire insurance guide for premium impact and how to find coverage.
How do I check my address's wildfire risk in Montana?
Enter your exact Montana street address on FireRisk.ai for a free street-level wildfire risk score, the nearest recorded fires, defensible-space zones, and home-insurance impact.