The Gibralter Fire was started by lightning and was first reported on August 7, 2017, at 9:06 PM in the Kootenai National Forest, seven miles east of Eureka.

Progress was made on firebreaks, with 15 miles (24 km) of breaks being built along Foothills and Grave Creek Roads.

[7] On August 24, the fire made a "major run" according to the U.S. Forest Service, heading north and east by strong winds.

To combat the fire's growth, crews implemented group and individual tree torching and cleaned up brush to improve fuel breaks.

[11][12] By September 12, the fire remained burning in Williams Creek and had moved over Locke Mountain and into Flathead National Forest.