Beaverhead County lifts some Bobcat Fire evacuations

UPDATE: August 19, 2026 at 9:37 a.m.

The Bobcat Lakes Fire, burning 9,892 acres east of Wisdom, is now 40% contained according to an update from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. 

The 31,667-acre Sand Creek Fire southeast of Wisdom has reached 7% containment, the forest service said. 

Elevated fire conditions returning Wednesday may increase fire behavior and smoke production. A short-haul helicopter will provide air support to the fire suppression efforts today along with other aviation resources. 

UPDATE: August 18, 2026 at 9:47 a.m.

Fire managers said crews were still working on the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires near Wise River and Wisdom, with evacuation changes and a live online update set for 7:00 p.m.

A Facebook post from Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Wildland Fire Information said the update would air at 7:00 p.m. on its page.

Mike Behrens, the incident commander for Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, was leading both fires with 829 people, 54 engines, 10 crews and 12 dozers assigned.

The Bobcat Lakes Fire was listed at 9,892 acres and 19% contained. The Sand Creek Fire was listed at 31,667 acres and 2% contained.

On the Sand Creek Fire, crews delayed planned burnout work and switched to building fireline on the lower west side. Fire managers also said crews were getting Crystal Park ready in case fire activity picked up again and clearing cut brush along the Byway as conditions got warmer and drier.

On the Bobcat Lakes Fire, crews made progress on the north side near Pettengill Creek and Jerked Prairie. Firefighters also kept working along the Byway and moved equipment to Lacy Creek where heat was still showing.

Fire managers said thunderstorms and afternoon showers were possible, with winds near storms reaching 40 to 50 mph. They also warned fire activity could increase as temperatures rose and humidity dropped.

Evacuations were updated. The Dingley Zone remained in GO status while Moose Creek and Sugarloaf Hill on the Bobcat Lakes Fire were no longer under evacuation.

The Scenic Byway remained closed. A temporary flight restriction also stayed in place above the fire area and Beaverhead County remained under Stage 1 fire restrictions.

UPDATE: August 18, 2026 at 8:26 a.m.

Some residents who left because of the Bobcat Fire in Moose Creek and the Sugarloaf Hill area can return to their properties starting Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

A Facebook post from the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office said people from those evacuated areas could go back home. The post also said Jerked Prairie stayed in SET status.

The Scenic Byway remained closed. The sheriff’s office said law enforcement would stay in the area for the next couple of weeks to help keep residents and emergency crews safe.

Officials asked returning residents to use caution and stay alert. Fire crews were expected to remain in the area for the next couple of weeks.

Residents can check updates from the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office. 

UPDATE: August 17, 2026 at 9:45 a.m.

Fire crews continued working on the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires near Wisdom as evacuations and closures remained in place.

A Facebook post from Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Wildland Fire Information said the Sand Creek Fire was 31,652 acres and 1% contained, while the Bobcat Lakes Fire was 9,791 acres and 19% contained.

The post said calmer fire activity let crews move closer in and do more direct line work in some areas.

On Sand Creek, crews were building handline west of Maverick Mountain toward Old Tim Creek and preparing for possible burnout work that could be visible from Wisdom and Highway 278.

On Bobcat Lakes, firefighters were checking both edges of the fire for places where direct line work or mop-up could help. Crews also continued mop-up along the Byway.

Communities north of Clark Creek and Shale Creek, including Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain, remained in GO evacuation status. The Scenic Byway stayed closed.

Beaverhead County also remained under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, according to the post. 

UPDATE: August 15, 2026 11:55 a.m.

The Sand Creek Fire jumped to 31,652 acres with 1% containment, while the Bobcat Lakes Fire grew a small amount to 9,791 acres with 10% containment, according to a Saturday morning update from incident command. 

The command said the acreage update represented an increase over the last few days, because the team had not been able to use an infrared flight to measure the fires for a couple of days. 

Command said recent weather had moderated the fire. 

"Today, high temperatures will be near 65 and WSW with gusts to 15 mph, with chances of showers and thunderstorms. Fire activity has greatly moderated. Fire behavior will be limited to creeping and smoldering," command wrote in its update.

Command also announced an opportunity for Moose Creek and Sugarloaf residents to temporarily return to their homes to retrieve property.

The window for return is 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday. Residents will be required to show proof of ID and address and will sign in upon entrance and exit to the area, the commander said. 

"Please use caution, remain vigilant, and be prepared to evacuate when directed," command wrote.

UPDATE: August 14, 2026 9:00 a.m.

A Friday morning update from incident command said the Bobcat Lakes fire grew to 9,768 acres and reached 6% containment, while the Sand Creek Fire stayed at 27,736 acres and still has no containment.

However, the command center said an infrared light has been unavailable for several nights, so the estimated acreages are "less than actual."

Fire activity has been "greatly moderated" due to intermittent rain showers and elevated moistures are expected to limit fire behavior on Friday as well. Officials said a flash flood watch in the fire area is also active.

UPDATE: August 14, 2026 7:45 a.m.

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, Mont. – Grasshopper Valley residents will be allowed to temporarily return to their homes on Friday to retrieve their property, the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office said.

The office said residents could return to their residences between 9:30 a.m and 12 p.m. on August 14 to retrieve essential belongings and check on their property. 

To return to their property, the office said people would have to check in with Law Enforcement at the road block and present their ID and address, and would time stamp their entry and exit from the area.

“Due to changing fire conditions and the potential for increased fire danger, all residents must vacate the area no later than 12:00 p.m. Residents are urged to remain alert, follow all instructions from emergency personnel, and be prepared to leave immediately if conditions change,” the office said.

Grasshopper Valley was placed under “GO” evacuation status due to the 27,736-acre Sand Creek Fire burning to its north. Fire incident command said on Thursday that it was building a dozer line to the Valley’s west as it worked on the fire’s containment.

UPDATE: August 13 at 8:51 a.m. 

The Bobcat Lakes Fire is burning 9,680 acres and continues to have no containment, according to an update from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The Sand Creek Fire is holding at around 27,736 acres with zero containment. 

A community meeting is set for Thursday night at the Wise River Community Center at 6:00 p.m. and livestreamed by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Wildland Fire Information page. 

Incident command said the northern tail of the Sand Creek Fire has surpassed the south side of Odell Mountain, but the western edge is heading toward a completed indirect dozer line. The Bobcat Lakes Fire "bumped hard" against the Pattengail Creek on Wednesday, and the eastern edge is being held at the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. 

UPDATE: August 12 at 8:20 a.m. 

The Bobcat Lakes Fire has grown to 9,245 acres with no containment, according to an update from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge national Forest.

The Sand Creek Fire is burning 27,576 acres with no containment, nearly doubling in size from the 15,784 acres reported on August 10. 

"The [Sand Creek Fire] crossed the Pioneer Mountains Scenic By-way yesterday and has progressed to the foot of Comet Mountain," the forest service said. "Structure protection efforts proved their value at Elkhorn Hot Springs, where initial reconnaissance revealed damage was minimal after the fire moved through...Structure protection in Grasshopper Valley will continue."

The forest service said a local Red Flag warning was issued today, which may increase fire behavior. However, rain is possible later in the week. 

The public fire information line is 406-420-1966 (8am - 9pm).

Additional contact information: 2026.bobcatlakes@firenet.gov and 2026.sandcreek@firenet.gov.

UPDATE: August 11 at 3:10 p.m.

A GO evacuation order is now in effect for Billings Creek north, Polaris, the Ma Barnes subdivisions, Mountain View, Highboy Drive, Sawtooth Road and Clark Creek Road.

The Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office and Incident Management Team are urging those in affected areas to leave now.

UPDATE: August 10 at 4:00 p.m.

The Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office announced all boats must be removed from Clark Canyon immediately until further notice.

The forest service is pulling water from the lake by helicopter for the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires.

UPDATE: August 10 at 9:50 a.m. 

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest shared an update on the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires after "GO" evacuations were issued on Sunday afternoon. 

The Bobcat Lakes Fire is burning 7,686 acres with no containment. The Sand Creek Fire has grown to 15,784 acres and is 1% contained. 

Critical fire weather is anticipated Monday, and a red flag warning has been issued. 

"Firefighters made progress on structure protection from Elkhorn Hot Springs towards Maverick Mountain ahead of the advancing Sand Creek Fire with the help of overnight crews," the forest service said. "Two dozen heavy tanker drops delivered fire retardant to slow fire growth on the southern edge." 

UPDATE: August 9 at 4:15 p.m.

The Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) updated evacuation orders to GO status on August 8 for Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain as crews work the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires southwest and southeast of Wisdom.

The updated order includes communities south to Shale Creek and Clark Creek on the north end of Grasshopper Valley.

The 11,697 acre Sand Creek Fire started Aug. 1 and is 1% contained, while the 7,019 acre Bobcat Lakes Fire started July 31 and was at 0% containment.

Fire managers said hot, dry weather and an unstable atmosphere drove extreme fire behavior on the Sand Creek Fire as it moved east Saturday. Firefighters checked both fires at the Pioneer Scenic Byway and quickly responded to 15 spot fires across the road, but both fires remained west of the byway as of Sunday morning, BCSO said.

Crews moved into Grasshopper Valley to assess homes and strengthen structure protection. State task forces, Forest Service staff, volunteers and ranchers also helped move more than 1,000 cattle from forest grazing allotments to private land not threatened by either fire.

UPDATE: August 8, 2026 at 12:24 p.m.

The Bobcat Lakes fire grew to 5,514 acres, according to a Saturday update from fire officials, who said the fire was still 0% contained.

"This is an evolving situation with periods of extreme fire behavior," officials wrote in the update.

The fire is burning 13 miles southwest of Wise River and prompted, along with a nearby 8,890-acre fire 12 miles east of Wisdom, the closure of Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. 

Evacuation levels were raised from "ready" to "set" for the Elkhorn hotsprings and Maverick Mountain area due to the fires.

UPDATE: August 7, 2026 at 9:06 a.m.

The Bobcat Lakes fire nearly doubled in size to 4,336 acres and remains 0% contained, according to an update from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. 

"The Sand Creek Fire contributed to spot driven spread south in the Bear Lakes area triggering livestock evacuation planned Friday," the U.S. Forest Service said. "Additional resources began arriving Thursday to extend operations into the night.  Beginning Friday, night shift crews will increase capacity adding to firefighters already assigned to both fires." 

Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is closed from Sheep Creek to Grand Vista.

Hot and dry weather conditions are expected to continue Friday and Saturday.

 UPDATE: August 6, 2026 11:51 a.m.

Fire officials said the Bobcat Lakes Fire grew to 2,704 acres in a Thursday update.

WISE RIVER, Mont. – The Incident commander assigned to the Bobcat Lakes fire, burning 1,829 acres 12 miles east of Wisdom, said in a Tuesday update that crews were working on containment lines and doing structure protection in Jerked Prairie.

The commander released a report saying the cause of the fire was undetermined and that 77 personnel were at the scene.

Due to the fire, campgrounds on Forest System lands in a section of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway near Lacy Creek Road were closed until further notice. A temporary flight restriction was also placed over Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires.

“Fire managers and agency officials are discussing necessary area, road, and trail closures. Ensuring public and firefighter safety and protecting life and property are of the utmost importance,” the commander wrote in the Tuesday report.

He also asked people to slow down on the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway due to increased fire equipment traffic. 

The fire showed “moderate” behavior and Tuesday is expected to see slightly shifting winds, according to the incident commander.

Article originally published August 4, 2026 12: 51 p.m.