Northwest Montana enters Stage 2 fire restrictions

Much of Northwest Montana is under Stage 2 fire restrictions that ban campfires as severe drought conditions have expanded, bringing extreme fire danger to the entire region, fire managers said Friday.

The move to Stage 2 restrictions comes a week after Flathead, Lincoln and Sanders counties adopted Stage 1 fire restrictions.

But a dry lightning event last weekend sparked several new wildfires across the region that have burned thousands of acres, leading Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to adopt Stage 2 restrictions earlier this week and Flathead County commissioners to declare an emergency.

FWP said in a news release the extreme fire danger can cause fires of any type to burn quickly and intensely.

“Small fires become big fires much faster than at the ‘very high’ fire danger level. Spot fires are probable, with long-distance spotting likely. These fires are very difficult to fight and may become very dangerous and often last for several days,” the department said.

The Aug. 1 drought update showed severe and moderate drought have expanded in northwest Montana and along the Hi-Line.

There were 44 active fires across Montana, according to the Department of Natural Resources, but the vast bulk of them are concentrated in Northwest Montana, including several that have topped 10,000 acres.

Fire managers said any spark can quickly lead to a wildfire in current conditions. Most of Sanders, Lake, Flathead and Glacier counties are seeing severe drought this week, as are parts of Lincoln and Toole counties, according to this week’s update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The Stage 2 restrictions ban all campfires, though people can use fuel stoves that can turn on and off. Using motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails is banned. And between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m., using internal combustion engines without a spark arresting device or outside of an enclosed building is banned, as is welding or using explosives.

FWP said the restrictions will be in place until further notice to try to cut down on human-caused fires, which account for about 75% of the blazes in Montana.