The Fire Is Fully Contained

Good news for Western Montana: the Alder Fire, burning about seven miles southwest of Frenchtown, has reached 100% containment, according to KPAX.

Wednesday evening marked the final daily update for the incident, closing out what was a fast-moving and resource-intensive wildfire response on the Lolo National Forest.

How It Started and How Big It Got

A lightning strike on July 24, 2026 ignited the blaze.

Before crews got the upper hand, the fire had grown to 1,235 acres — a significant footprint for a fire operating in the hills southwest of a small community like Frenchtown.

The Crew That Got It Done

A total of 129 personnel worked this fire across its lifespan.

The response included two hand crews, three engines, two helicopters, one dozer, two water tenders, and two skidgens — a full toolkit for rugged terrain and active fire behavior.

Northern Rockies Team 1 managed the incident before transferring command Wednesday evening to a local Type 3 organization led by Incident Commander Billy Trujillo and Incident Commander Trainee Greg Anderson.

What Crews Are Still Doing Out There

Containment doesn't mean crews pack up and go home — not yet.

Patrol and mop-up operations are continuing, with firefighters targeting pockets of unburnt fuels and residual heat deeper inside the fire's perimeter.

Heavy equipment is being demobilized, crews are being returned to their home units, and fire camp is being dismantled as the incident scales down.

Weather Is Still a Factor

After a brief cool stretch, warmer and drier conditions have returned to the region — and firefighters are actually using that to their advantage.

Higher temperatures help surface residual heat sources, making hotspot identification easier during mop-up.

That said, conditions Thursday were expected to be challenging, with relative humidity dropping into the low teens and light northwesterly winds anticipated in the afternoon.

Strong thermal belts are forecast to develop over the next 48 hours, meaning crews will stay sharp even as the official footprint shrinks.

Closures Still in Effect

An area, road, and trail closure around the fire remains in place for the safety of both the public and firefighters still on the ground.

The Temporary Flight Restriction over the fire has been lifted, but anyone planning to access the area should check the Lolo National Forest closure maps and details at fs.usda.gov/r01/lolo/alerts before heading out.