Wildfires continued to spread across Montana this week, with the Sand Creek Fire near Polaris remaining the state's largest active blaze and the historic Maverick Mountain Ski Area among the structures lost to flames. Gov. Greg Gianforte, speaking Wednesday morning, called it a "big victory" that the Sand Creek Fire had not destroyed structures in its immediate path — though the broader picture across the state was one of escalating fire activity.
Maverick Mountain, a small ski area in the Pintler Mountains southwest of Dillon with a loyal following among Montanans who prize its uncrowded slopes and old-school character, was reported burned in the latest round of fire activity. The loss of the ski area marks one of the more tangible cultural impacts of the 2026 fire season, which has stressed resources statewide.
The Sand Creek Fire, visible from Wisdom as a towering plume, has been the focal point of state firefighting efforts. Gianforte's remarks came as incident commanders worked to hold containment lines against a fire burning in remote terrain in Beaverhead County. The governor has been publicly engaged with the fire response throughout the week, visiting affected areas and meeting with local officials and residents.
For Helena-area residents, the statewide fire picture is more than background noise — smoke from western and southwestern Montana fires has periodically settled into the valley, and the state's firefighting capacity affects how quickly resources can respond to any fire that starts closer to home. The 2026 season has already been marked by multiple simultaneous large fires, stretching both state and federal crews.