Sand Creek Fire Aftermath: Cabins Stand Amid Charred Landscape Near Maverick Mountain

DILLON, Mont. — The Sand Creek Fire was reported at 33,670 acres and 14% containment Wednesday, Aug. 26, weeks after flames pushed through the Maverick Mountain area and jumped the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, threatening cabins, businesses and places that have been part of the Grasshopper Valley for generations.

Despite the intensity of the fire, all of the cabins in the affected area survived. The significant structural loss in the Maverick Mountain area was the chairlift at Maverick Mountain, which was destroyed by the fire.

Earlier this month, the advancing wildfire threatened Maverick Mountain, Elkhorn Hot Springs, nearby lodges and cabins, and properties along Old Canyon Road.

As the smoke begins to clear from portions of the area, the effectiveness of firefighters' structure-protection efforts can now be seen firsthand.

Southwestern Montana News traveled into the affected area to document the aftermath. A photo gallery included with this article shows the dramatic contrast between the charred forest and the green yards and cabins firefighters successfully protected.

All Cabins Survive as Fire Burns Around Them

The smell of smoke still hung in the air as Southwestern Montana News traveled through portions of the fire area. Blackened ground and scorched trees provided a stark reminder of how close the flames came.

Yet along Old Canyon Road, every cabin remained standing.

Around many of the structures, yards were still green and lush. In some places, untouched cabins and vegetation sat only a short distance from areas where the forest had been heavily burned.

Firefighters had installed hoses, sprinklers and other structure-protection measures around threatened properties before and during the fire's advance.

Those efforts did their job.

Turn 180 degrees away from some of the protected cabins, and the scene changes dramatically.

The fire's path can be seen winding through the forest. In some locations, entire rows of trees burned. In others, the fire appeared to pick its way through the timber, consuming only one or two trees while leaving neighboring trees standing.

The result is a patchwork landscape that shows just how unpredictably the Sand Creek Fire moved through the area.

Maverick Mountain Chairlift Lost to Fire

While the cabins survived, the fire did cause a major loss at Maverick Mountain, where the ski area's chairlift was destroyed.

The loss of the lift stands in sharp contrast to the successful protection of cabins and other structures throughout the surrounding area.

The fire burned through portions of Maverick Mountain and crossed the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, creating a significant challenge for firefighters working to protect structures in its path.

Aftermath Photo Gallery Shows Fire's Path

The Sand Creek Fire aftermath photo gallery included with this article gives readers a firsthand look at conditions around Maverick Mountain, Old Canyon Road and the surrounding Grasshopper Valley.

The photographs show blackened forest floors, scorched trees and areas where the fire moved through heavy vegetation. They also show the other side of the story: green lawns and intact cabins surrounded by a landscape touched by wildfire.

The images provide a striking look at both the destructive power of the Sand Creek Fire and the results of the structure-protection work performed by firefighters.

Scars Will Remain for Years

Although the cabins survived, the surrounding landscape has been dramatically changed.

Blackened ground, burned trees and scorched hillsides stretch across portions of the fire area. The scars left behind by the Sand Creek Fire will likely remain visible for years as the forest begins the long process of recovery.

Firefighters have started removing some of the hoses, sprinklers and structure-protection equipment from areas where the immediate threat has decreased. Those resources can now be moved to other locations where they are needed.

The work on the Sand Creek Fire, however, is far from finished.

As of Wednesday, Aug. 26, the wildfire remained at 33,670 acres and 14% containment.

Closures Remain in Place

Public access remains restricted in portions of the fire area.

The area beyond Old Canyon Road toward Elkhorn Hot Springs remains closed, and the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway remains closed.

The public should continue to respect all road and area closures. Even where active flames are no longer visible, hazards can include falling trees, hot spots, unstable terrain and ongoing firefighting operations.

Firefighters' Work Saved a Piece of the Grasshopper Valley

For families who have spent summers, winters and holidays in the Grasshopper Valley, the survival of the area's cabins is welcome news after weeks of uncertainty.

The forest around them has changed. Familiar views are now filled with blackened trees and scorched ground, and the loss of Maverick Mountain's chairlift will have a lasting impact.

But the cabins that stood in the path of the Sand Creek Fire are still standing.

The green yards surrounded by burned forest offer perhaps the clearest evidence of the work firefighters put into protecting the area.

When the fire is eventually contained, the closures are lifted and families are able to safely return, those cabins will still be there—ready to provide memories for future generations.

View the photo gallery included with this article for a firsthand look at the aftermath of the Sand Creek Fire, the burned landscape and the cabins firefighters successfully protected.