A wildfire that ignited Wednesday in Stillwater County has grown to 3,655 acres near Reed Point, with firefighters reporting just one percent containment as of Thursday. Authorities have issued a pre-evacuation notice for nearby residents, urging them to prepare to leave but stopping short of a mandatory order.

The cause of the Windmill Fire remains unknown. Fire behavior is described as moderate, with group torching and erratic winds complicating suppression efforts. The most active portions of the fire are pushing along its north, northwest, and southwest flanks, burning through a mix of grass and timber.

Firefighting Resources on Scene

Crews have deployed a substantial array of equipment to combat the blaze, including 15 engines, three dozers, two graders, and five water tenders. Air support consists of three type-2 helicopters, two type-1 helicopters, four large air tankers, and one very large air tanker. Additional resources are reported to be en route.

Residents in the pre-evacuation zone are advised to gather essential documents, medications, and supplies and to make arrangements for livestock and pets so they can leave quickly if conditions worsen. A pre-evacuation notice carries no mandatory requirement to depart, but officials treat it as a serious precautionary step ahead of potential forced evacuation.

Wildfire management remains a persistent challenge across Montana, where grassland and timber terrain can allow fires to spread rapidly under dry and windy conditions. The Windmill Fire’s quick expansion — from ignition to more than 3,600 acres in roughly a day — illustrates the speed at which fires can escalate in late-summer conditions. Officials have not provided a timeline for fuller containment.