Northwest Montana enters stage 1 fire restrictions

Northwest Montana moved to stage 1 fire restrictions that prohibit campfires last weekend.

The rules are for Flathead and Lincoln counties, the Flathead and Kootenai forests, Glacier National Park and state lands. It also applies to Stoltze, Stimson, Southern Pine and Green Diamond forestry land.

Stage 2 restrictions remain in place for Sanders, Lake, Mineral and Missoula counties.

“We’ve gotten some rain and while we’re doing better than most of the state with large fires on the landscape, the message here is to not be complacent. It’s hot, it’s dry,” said Marcel Getz, a fire prevention specialist with Montana DNRC, on Thursday. 

Getz said that the interagency decision came after evaluating future weather, resource availability and ongoing drought conditions. Despite a healthy rainfall on Tuesday, hot and dry conditions have plagued Northwest Montana in recent weeks, and more hot weather is predicted this week. A heat advisory is in place for the Flathead Valley beginning Friday through Saturday night. 

“Right now, it's looking at what makes sense – and right now going stage 1 on the national forest without exemptions makes the most sense,” Getz said.    

Last year the county and surrounding areas entered a stage 1 fire restriction on July 29. 

Under stage 1 restrictions it is prohibited to ignite, build or use a fire. Smoking is prohibited unless in an enclosed car or 3 feet away from any flammable materials.*

Violation of the rule carries a fine of up to $5,000 individually, up to $10,000 for an organization and imprisoned for up to six months. If a fire starts, that individual could be held liable for all suppression costs and damages. 

There are no exemptions to the no campfire rule on the Flathead or Kootenai forests, according to Lincoln Chute, the fire service area manager for Flathead County’s Office of Emergency Services. 

The intent of stage 1 restrictions is to reduce the risk of wildfires during periods of high fire danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition. Each year, 80 to 90% of all wildfires are caused by humans. 

“Hopefully we can get out of this year without a large fire, or even a small one... then we really can focus our efforts on lightning fires,” Chute said, citing a lack in resources due to other large fires throughout the West. 

So far this year more than 100,000 acres have burned across the state, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. 

“Even small fires are dangerous, so we just want to do everything we can to educate, provide, information to the citizens,” Chute said.  

Interagency fire managers are unsure when the restriction will be lifted but noted that August and September are wildfire months in Montana. If an individual has concern about the safety of their structure, they should call the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for a free home visit, Getz said.  

For more information about wildfires and fire restrictions in the state, visit mtfireinfo.org or firesafeflathead.com.  

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.