July 30, 2026: Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update

The current air quality across Missoula County ranges from Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. See current air quality conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov.

Thankfully, the wildfires in Oregon aren’t as active as they were last weekend and they have been sending less smoke in our direction. Still, the smoke from those fires combined with local fires has kept most local air quality monitors at Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

When the Air Quality Index is Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, those most at risk of smoke related symptoms are people with heart or lung disease, older adults (65+), children under the age of 18 (but younger children are at higher risk), pregnant persons, minority populations, outdoor workers, and persons living outdoors. But even if you wouldn’t consider yourself on that list, remember that smoke impacts everyone differently and it’s always smart to reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke.

GOES West satellite imagery

The most significant local fire is the Elder 1 Fire, south of Frenchtown. It has grown another couple hundred acres to 923 acres. The Lolo National Forest and assisting crews are working to contain and suppress the fire with multiple tactics. Forest fire officials have issued a closure of most Forest Service lands between Petty Creek, Deep Creek, and the Clark Fork River. Smoke from the Elder 1 Fire is producing some localized impacts, especially in the Frenchtown area and in the communities closest to the fire (between I-90 and the Clark Fork River just east of the fire. Expect the worst localized impacts overnight and into the mornings. As night falls, smoke will drain down into valleys and pool, worsening air quality. Increased mixing and wind during the day helps disperse the smoke.

If you’re planning your weekend, there’s a few other active fires in northwestern Montana to note. They include the Skillet Fire, near Whitefish, and the Silvertip Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, which ballooned to 4,126 acres yesterday. Thankfully these fires aren’t currently impacting us with smoke due to the southwest winds. The North Fork Lost Horse Fire, burning southwest of Hamilton, has continued to show minimal fire growth over the last few days. Closures are in place for Lost Horse Road at the Lick Creek Road junction and the Coyote Coulee trailhead. You can find more information about active wildfires across the country at InciWeb.

Dry thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening, which could spark new wildfires. Looking ahead at the next few days, we can expect hot and smoky conditions to continue and potentially worsen over the weekend as critical fire weather develops. A dry cold front is forecast to push through the region on Saturday, bringing increased westerly winds and low relative humidities. This critical fire weather could flare up regional fires and worsen smoke conditions. The good news is that temperatures should cool down on Sunday after the cold front passes.

Remember that creating a clean indoor air space is the best way to reduce your exposure to smoke. You can either use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter or a MERV 13+ furnace filter attached to a box fan. For more information about ways to keep smoke out of your living space and reduce your exposure to smoke, explore the resources at MontanaWildfireSmoke.org.