Restrictions in effect

MINERAL COUNTY —Stage I fire restrictions will go into effect at 12:01 AM on Thursday, August 7th across west central Montana.  Jurisdictions include:

· Bitterroot National Forest

· Lolo National Forest

· Flathead Indian Reservation

· MT-DNRC Southwestern Land Office All Unit

· MT-DNRC Northwestern Land Office Plains Unit south of Kootenai NF

· Missoula Field Office BLM

· Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 2

· Counties: Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders County south of the Kootenai National Forest, and Lake County only within Flathead Indian Reservation

· City of Missoula within open spaces and conservation lands

· Property within city limits in the Area are EXEMPT from the order

· Granite and Powell Counties have not implemented restrictions at this time

Stage I fire restrictions apply to campfires and smoking.  This season, wildland fire agencies have responded to well over 60 human-caused fires in the area, ranging from unattended campfires to towing chains dragging on the highway, mowing grass and welding.

At Stage I, campfires are prohibited on state and federal lands unless they are in a designated campfire ring in a developed site, listed by the appropriate land management agency.

Counties allow campfires under certain conditions, and it is your responsibility to know what they are before you light a campfire. By state law, a campfire is defined as “a fire set for cooking, warming, or ceremonial purposes; not more than three feet in diameter or height; void of overhanging branches; with all combustible material cleared at least 1-1/2 times the diameter of the fire; or a barbecue in a noncombustible container.”

Lists of federal and state sites exempted from Stage I, and county-specific conditions under which campfires are allowed will be distributed on Wednesday to the public via www.firerestrictions.us, media outlets, and posted at agency offices and fire departments.  Signs will be posted in the field.  

In addition to the campfire restrictions, smoking is prohibited unless within an enclosed vehicle, building, or in an area 3 feet in diameter, that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

These restrictions apply to any lands outside of designated city limits, regardless of ownership. Restrictions will remain in effect until there is a significant long-term change in fire danger.