A wildfire burning near Showdown Mountain Ski Resort in central Montana has grown to 700 acres with no containment as of Monday morning, drawing 61 firefighters and multiple aircraft to battle the blaze.
The Ant Park Fire was first reported Friday at approximately 3 p.m., roughly 15 miles northeast of White Sulphur Springs and 7 miles southeast of the ski resort. Firefighters encountered very active fire behavior throughout the weekend as the uncontained fire spread across subalpine fir terrain on its northwest head, with some spotting occurring ahead of the main fire.
Resources and Containment Challenges
A Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire Monday morning. The firefighting effort includes two Engine Modules, one Type 1 Hotshot crew, one Type 2 Initial Attack crew, and three helicopters—two Type 1 aircraft and one Type 3 helicopter. Despite these resources, the fire remains uncontained as firefighters work to establish access points and secure anchor positions.
“Firefighters will continue working to build access and anchor points with the use of dozers,” according to an Inciweb update on the incident, as first reported by the KTVH. Higher relative humidity and lighter-than-expected winds on Sunday helped limit fire activity that day, but conditions remain challenging.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. No injuries or structures have been lost as of the latest report.
Road Closures and Evacuation Precautions
Authorities have implemented road closures and barriers at four locations to protect public safety. Forest Road 6464 is closed at its juncture with Higgins Park and Forest Service Road J6467. Forest Road 837 is closed at its intersection with Forest Service Road 487, which itself is closed heading north at the junction with Road 829. Additionally, Forest Road 47 and Jamison Trail are closed at the forest boundary.
The fire’s westward spread has been slowed by terrain burned in the 2003 Ant Park Fire, which provides a natural firebreak. However, spotting ahead of the main fire front continues to pose a risk to unburned areas.
The I-90 corridor near Livingston has also experienced recent fire activity, and the Bobcat Lakes Fire near Wisdom has grown to 224 acres with smokejumpers deployed, adding to Montana’s wildfire burden during the active fire season. The region faces continued risk as fire conditions persist across central and western portions of the state.
