Sand Creek Fire damages Maverick Mountain Ski Area in Montana

The Sand Creek Fire has significantly impacted southwestern Montana, growing to nearly 20,000 acres after exhibiting extreme behavior due to hot, dry, and unstable atmospheric conditions. The wildfire has reached the summit of Maverick Mountain Ski Area, where it has caused damage to the resort’s only chairlift—a vintage Riblet—and a small ski shack.

Beaverhead County Sheriff David Wendt issued mandatory evacuation orders for Maverick Mountain, Elkhorn Hot Springs, Shale Creek, Clark Creek, and the north end of the Grasshopper Valley. While the ski area’s lone chairlift and certain structures have been damaged, reports indicate the main Maverick Mountain ski lodge and the nearby Elkhorn Hot Springs lodge remained standing as of Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighting crews have focused on structure protection, utilizing smokejumpers, ground firefighters, and the installation of pump and sprinkler systems to defend critical buildings. The fire, which began near Wisdom, Montana, on August 1, has become one of the largest active fires in the state.