UPDATE — 12:17 PM Sept 5. — The evacuation warning for residents within Wisconsin, Noble, and Indian Creek areas have been lifted effective Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 at 6pm, according to Madison County Sheriff's Office. The Cloudrest fire sits at 3,173.5 acres and is 54% contained, according to Watch Duty.
UPDATE — 12:17 PM Sept 5. — The Bivens Creek Fire is at 2,126 acres, and is 84% contained. The Cloudrest Fire is at 3,148 acres and 35% containment.
UPDATE — 11:16 AM Sept 4. — More containment is shown for both fires; Bivens Creek is at 91% containment and 2,126 acres; Cloudrest is 35% contained and at 3,140 acres.
Smoke forecasts and current updates can be found via this link: www.airnow.gov/wildfires/. [fire.airnow.gov]
Forest closures and a Temporary Flight Restriction remains in place, with more information on this here: http://knowbeforeyoufly.org [knowbeforeyoufly.org].
Photo: A black bear sow with cubs is seen on a Bivens Creek trail camera
Photo: Fire map of Bivens Creek and Cloudrest
Photo: Ariel view of Northeast terrain and burn mosaic of Cloudrest Fire
the burn mosaic.
UPDATE — 11:48 AM Sept 3. — The Bivens Creek Fire remains at 2,126 acres and has an increased containment to 88%. The Cloudrest Fire is at 3,140 acres and 35% contained.
UPDATE — 8:32 AM Sept 1. — The Bivens Creek Fire drops to 2,126 acres and 76% containment. The Cloudrest Fire has decreased to 3,135 acres and is 20% contained.
Warmer temperatures are expected this week, with highs in mid 70s to mid 80's with full sunand higher elevated winds. Mild fire behavior is anticipated, as reported by Watch Duty.
Evacuation warnings are in place for residents within Upper Winconsin, Noble and Indian Creek areas.
UPDATE — 10:01 AM Aug 29. — The Bivens Creek Fire is at 2,233 acres and is 76% contained. The Cloudrest Fire is at 3,479 acres and is 20% contained.
Rain and higher humidity have slowed the spread of the Bivens Creek and Cloudrest fires, according to Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Fire Information.
Crews continue to strengthen containment lines, with a new management team set to take command Saturday evening. Area closures remain in effect, and a temporary flight restriction is in place to protect firefighting aircraft.
For updates: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbdf-bivens-creek and https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbdf-cloudrest
UPDATE — 10:14 AM Aug 28. — Crews continue making progress on the Bivens Creek and Cloudrest fires after a half-inch of rain stalled growth but failed to fully extinguish the flames.
The Bivens Creek Fire is 53% contained at 2,233 acres with 644 personnel. The Cloudrest Fire is 20% contained at 3,476 acres with 239 personnel.
Firefighters are reinforcing containment lines and clearing hazards, while officials warn of potential flash floods in burned areas. A community information meeting is scheduled for 7PM tonight at the Sheridan Rural Fire Station.
Forest closures and a temporary flight restriction remain in place.
Even the wildlife enjoyed the cooler conditions yesterday. This moose has seen yesterday on Bivens Creek Fire.
The Thank You Campaign organized by Lost Cabin Bar to welcome back firefighters on Bivens Creek and Cloudrest Fires.
UPDATE — 11:33AM Aug 27. — The Bivens Creek Fire is at 2,233 acres and 34% containment. The Cloudrest Fire is at 3,476 acres and 12% containment. There is a community information meeting tomorrow, Aug 28 at 7PM. The meeting will be help at the Sheridan Rural Fire Station, 3284 Hwy 297 South, Sheridan, MT 59749.
UPDATE — 10:58AM Aug 26. — The community information meeting at the Harrison Fire Station has changed the time slightly to 6PM tonight.
The Bivens Creek Fire is at 2,233 acres and 34% contained, and the Cloudrest Fire, 2,629 acres and 12% contained.
Today's cooler weather and rain may slow fire growth. Temperatures will range from low 60s to 70s and humidity rnaging from mid 30s and 40s. The expectant showers over the next few days may also bring a high chance of lightning, and preparation for potential flash flooding within the affected area.
For the Cloudrest Fire, firefighters are working to slow the fire and strengthen containment lines in the Indian Creek and Noble Fork drainages. Workers are also adding fire lines between Wisconsin and Mill creeks and protecting nearby homes and structures in several drainages.
On the Bivens Creek Fire, a containment line now surrounds the entire fire. Crews are putting out hotspots with hand tools and water and will keep improving the line before declaring more containment.
Forest Service lands in the fire area are closed for safety. Ruby Reservoir waterways have reopened, but visitors should watch for firefighting aircraft. A no‑fly zone is in place over the fire, and using drones or private planes there could stop firefighting aircraft and put crews in danger.
Previous —
The Bivens Creek Fire, reported Aug. 13, has burned 2,242 acres with 741 personnel assigned. The Cloudrest Fire, discovered the next day, is at 2,565 acres and has 165 personnel. Both are at 0% containment. A community information meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Harrison Fire Station.
Weather conditions remain dry, with highs in the mid-60s to 80s and relative humidity between 18% and 20%. Winds are expected to follow overnight easterly patterns, with thermal belts on slopes likely to spur active fire behavior, particularly on sun-exposed terrain.
CLOUDREST — Fire crews are using targeted structure protection tactics to safeguard homes and property in the Wisconsin, Noble and Indian Creek drainages, as well as the communities of Mill Creek, South Meadow, Bivens, Ramshorn Creek and Mill Gulch.
Vegetation is being cleared by masticators to help reinforce containment lines. Officials say the plan will allow firefighters to assess and prioritize structures, coordinate with emergency services, implement risk-reduction measures and activate backup strategies as fire conditions change.
BIVENS CREEK Fire — Fire behavior remained moderate as southwest winds pushed flames upslope and up the valley, with occasional gusts. Crews worked to extinguish hot spots and secure the fire line, using hand and power tools to uncover smoldering roots, pull apart burning logs and remove hazard trees to make the area safer.
CLOSURES — An area closure on U.S. Forest Service land is in effect for the safety of the public and firefighters. Ruby Reservoir waterways will be closed through Aug. 25, 2025, as reported by The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Camping remains open, but visitors are advised to stay away from the water because of heavy aircraft activity supporting the Cloudrest and Bivens Creek fires. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area to protect firefighting aircraft operations. Using drones or flying private aircraft in the fire area can halt air operations and suppression efforts and jeopardize the safety of firefighting resources.
