Massive Smoke Plume Towers Over Montana Forest As Sand Creek Fire Grows To 15,784 Acres

A massive column of orange and yellow smoke towers over dense conifer forest in aerial footage from the Sand Creek Fire, burning approximately 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom.

A reconnaissance flight on August 5 shows thick smoke rising high above forested ridges, glowing intensely from internal fire activity as the plume billows into the sky.

Footage from August 6 shows a turbulent smoke column viewed from a helicopter cockpit, with a second helicopter flying in the distance through the smoke. Orange-tinted haze fills much of the view above the forested mountain ridges.

As of August 10, the Sand Creek Fire had grown to 15,784 acres with 1% containment. The fire started August 1 in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

The cause remains undetermined. The fire is active in heavy mixed-conifer timber with group torching and spotting, driven by northwest winds and low humidity.