Wheatland Co. Emergency Management - DES

08/28/2026

Wheatland County fire, including the stations of Two Dot and Harlowton, alongside Melville fire are on scene of a wildland fire on Bear Mountain,  approximately 13 miles north east of Melville and 17 miles south east of Harlowton.

The exact containment percentage is unknown at this time however, there have been no additional resources requested. 

Update 2236
At this time, Wheatland County resources are leaving the scene of the fire. Land owners will continue to monitor for any hotspots or flareups.

08/27/2026

Emergency services responding to a reported Wildland fire south of Shawmut.

Please stay clear of the scene and move over for emergency vehicles 

 Update at 1805
The Wheatland County fire department is currently on scene. The fire is burning in short grass and Sagebrush. Wheatland County fire, including the Harlowton and Shawmut fire departments are making great progress on 100% containment.  at this time, the current fire perimeter is estimated to be less than 2 acres.

Please take a moment to download the Watch Duty app to have the best situational awareness and information coming directly to you from authorities in Wheatland County. This nonprofit organization works hard to rapidly share information from our fire officials and is a great source of information for the public. 

08/12/2026

August 12,2026

Wheatland County Emergency Management is working with state officials to review a recent change to the county’s drought classification after the county lost its D3 Extreme Drought rating, following a localized rain event on July 16th.

While some areas received significant rainfall, the precipitation was not countywide. The areas experiencing the most severe drought impacts did not receive meaningful precipitation. Emergency management has contacted state officials to request a review of the classification change, noting that the recent update may not adequately reflect conditions across the entire county. Wheatland County Emergency Management will continue to coordinate with state partners and provide local impact information to help ensure that drought classifications and related decisions accurately reflect conditions across the county.

Residents, ranchers, and producers are encouraged to report drought related impacts, including water shortages, forage loss, and crop failures, to Emergency Management.

Additional Information:
This form is part of the Emergency Declaration signed by the County Commissioners.

Wheatland County Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) supports the community in planning, analyzing, and implementing emergency plans and policies.

08/12/2026

With all the smoke in the air and the high temps we'd like to highlight Project STAR.

Project STAR is an interagency cooperative agreement between the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (MSPOA) that allows county Sheriffs to request and fund mutual-aid law enforcement support from other counties during major wildland fire evacuations and incidents.

We currently have a Project STAR deployment to assist Beaverhead County. Thank you to all the Montana Sheriffs who are always willing to help out each other's communities in times of need! Thank you to the law enforcement, firefighters, and support staff who are assisting with fires in Montana!

08/11/2026

[8/11/26 - 5:25 AM] Today is the last hot day of the week before temperatures begin to decrease. With this change, the chance for showers and thunderstorms also returns, with the best chance Thursday into Friday.

08/11/2026

08/11/2026

08/11/2026

Monthly Test

The Wheatland/Golden Valley County Emergency Alert monthly test has been sent out. If you are signed up for emergency alerts and did not receive a message or phone call, please contact the Wheatland County Office of Emergency Management / DES at 406-940-5750 during regular business hours.

08/08/2026

Today, Wheatland County EMS is proud to be providing medical coverage for the sold-out Harlo Music Project as we welcome more than 1,100 attendees to our community.

Our Volunteers will be on-site throughout the event, ready to respond if medical assistance is needed. While we hope everyone enjoys the day without incident, our team is prepared to provide prompt emergency care should the need arise.

If you’re attending the event:

* Stay hydrated and take breaks from the heat when needed.
* Be mindful of those around you and look out for one another.
* If you or someone else needs medical assistance, notify event staff or call 911 immediately.

We’re proud to serve our community and help make this event safe for everyone. Have a great time, and we’ll be here if you need us.