Windy Rock Fire 2025

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Lightning ignited the Windy Rock Fire at approximately 1700 on August 14, 2025, in the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area, north of Gold Creek and Phosphate in Powell County, Montana. The fire was first reported at 100 acres, but grew quickly in steep, heavily timbered terrain with significant dead and down trees.

This fire is jointly managed under a full suppression strategy between the Bureau of Land Management and the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation. 

On October 5, 2025, a Type 4 Incident Commander from the DNRC Anaconda Unit began coordinating ongoing suppression repair activities. Firefighter personnel and equipment will be active in the area through the fall. 

A BLM Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team will be working in the area in fall 2025 to assess post-fire effects and produce a plan outlining actions necessary to mitigate damage resulting from the fire. The goal of the BAER Team will be to establish cost effective post-fire stabilization measures necessary to protect human life, property, and critical natural and cultural resources from further damage and to start the process of recovery.

The fire was declared dead out at 0936 on December 15, 2025.

The previous land closure order for BLM-managed lands in the fire area was rescinded on October 18, 2025. A new emergency road closure went into effect October 18, 2025, for the Windy Rock Jeep Road (BLM 2865) from the junction with BLM Road 2882 in Section 15 on the south end to midway through Section 27 on the north end. This closure is due to the significant impacts to the road from fire suppression activities and the need to prevent further damage from motorized vehicles. The road will be closed to all motorized vehicles, including e-bikes, until further notice.

For up to date information on the closure, visit facebook.com/BLMMontana or the Missoula Field Office website: blm.gov/office/missoula-field-office