The Meridian Fire burning about 40 miles south of Ennis is estimated at 4,005 acres as of Wednesday evening, October 16, 2024, according to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF).

The BDNF said in a Facebook post that the fire was active Wednesday, with the fire advancing north-northeast as it burned wood between FS 209 (west branch of Madison Highway) and FS 1209 (Cliff Lake Bench Road).

The fire was spotted on FS 1209, according to the post. Two large helicopters and two VLATs (Very Large Air Tankers) were used to slow the fire’s progression northward.

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for the Madison River Ranches subdivision and surrounding areas south of Cameron, Montana, Wednesday afternoon. The evacuation warning was lifted at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Actions planned for Thursday, October 17 include “reevaluating the fire perimeter location, weather conditions, and critical values ​​at risk, focusing primary suppression efforts on the northeastern flank closest to the lands and private structures,” according to the message. “Private landowners affected by the fire are encouraged to pay close attention to forecasted weather conditions as they may affect changes in evacuation alert status.”

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

The message states that if forecast winter weather conditions materialize between Thursday and Friday, fire behavior will be “considerably moderate.”

There are currently 74 people assigned to the Meridian Fire, which was first reported on October 8. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.