~160,000
Acres burned (2023)
>2,000
Number of fires (2023)
~300,000/year
10-year average acres burned
Top 10
National acreage rank
Historical data
Coming soon
Long-run charts for this indicator are on the way.
Compared to the United States
| Indicator | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned per year (thousands) | 160 | 80 |
National ranking
Montana ranks #29 of 30 states by acres burned per year.
| #1 | Kentucky | 0 |
| #2 | Louisiana | 0 |
| #3 | Alaska | 2 |
| #4 | Wisconsin | 3 |
| #5 | Ohio | 4.5 |
| #6 | South Dakota | 6 |
| #7 | New Jersey | 7 |
| #8 | Virginia | 10 |
| #9 | Michigan | 10 |
| #10 | Minnesota | 15 |
| #11 | Wyoming | 20 |
| #12 | Georgia | 22 |
| #13 | North Carolina | 25 |
| #14 | Vermont | 49 |
| #15 | Delaware | 50 |
| #16 | Florida | 60 |
| #17 | Colorado | 150 |
| #18 | New Hampshire | 200 |
| #19 | Rhode Island | 200 |
| #20 | Arizona | 220 |
| #21 | Washington | 330 |
| #22 | Maine | 500 |
| #23 | Utah | 1,000 |
| #24 | Indiana | 1,500 |
| #25 | Massachusetts | 2,000 |
| #26 | Illinois | 9,000 |
| #27 | Missouri | 25,000 |
| #28 | New Mexico | 150,000 |
| #29 | Montana | 160,000 |
| #30 | Oregon | 200,000 |
Overview
Montana wildfires are a major seasonal risk driven by dry forests, drought and lightning strikes across the Rocky Mountain front. Montana wildfire season typically peaks between July and September.
Did you know?
- The 1910 'Big Burn' remains one of the largest wildfires in U.S. history, scorching parts of Montana and Idaho.