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Stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect in Lincoln area; Stage 2 restrictions in effect for Powell County * Updated

*Includes updated information

With wildfire smoke lingering in the air across western Montana, and warm, dry conditions across the region pushing fire dangers ever higher, fire restrictions are the order of the day.

Tuesday morning, July 27, Lewis and Clark County Commissioners approved a resolution to extend Stage 1 Fire Restrictions to areas west of the Continental Divide effective Wednesday, based on the recommendation of the Rural Fire Council and Sheriff Leo Dutton, who also serves as Fire Warden. Stage 2 restrictions are slated to go into effect at midnight, July 30.*

Moisture conditions in the Upper Blackfoot the only part of the county west of the Continental Divide have been slightly better than in some other areas but fire danger here is nevertheless high. During a Rural Fire Council meeting Tuesday morning, July 20, Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse recommended that areas around Lincoln not already covered by other agency restrictions go into Stage 1 Fire restrictions.**

At the July 20 meeting of the Upper Blackfoot Community Council, Muse explained he recommended Stage 1 restrictions primarily due to the conditions, but also in part to alleviate confusion over where restrictions did and did not apply in the area.**

Muse explained that this was the first year the Upper Blackfoot was exempted from some fire restrictions, following a debate related to the 2017 fire season, during which decisions related to fire restrictions didn't appear to consider the conditions in the Upper Blackfoot Valley.

This year, most of Lewis and Clark County went into Stage1 Fire restrictions July 9, with the county commission's approval of the restrictions. However, the resolution exempted the Upper Blackfoot Valley.

That same day, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest also went into Stage 1 restrictions but exempted land in the Lincoln Ranger District north of Highway 200 and south of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

The Montana. Department of Natural Resources likewise implemented Stage 1 restrictions on all State land and private classified forest lands within the boundaries of Lewis and Clark County, effective July 10.

The unintended consequence was a patchwork of restrictions around Lincoln.

"It was just confusing as heck," Muse admitted. "I'll work on that this winter."

The HLCNF updated their fire restrictions July 22 to bring the entirety of the Lincoln Ranger District into Stage 1.

Under the county's Stage 1 restrictions, fires or campfire are only permitted on private or public property if they are in an improved fire ring or fire pit made of solid metal, stone or cement and no larger than 48 inches across. The Forest Service limits them to developed campgrounds in recreation sites, while the DNRC proclamation appears to ban campfires outright.

Smoking is only allowed in an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area cleared of flammable materials.

Additionally, use of welding equipment or acetylene or other torch with an open flame is prohibited under the county restrictions.

There are some exemptions for people who have written permission that specifically authorizes a prohibited act, and for the use of camp stoves and lanterns fueled by petroleum fuels that can be turned off. The Forest Service also allows outfitters and guides to have fires in stoves with working spark arresters.

According to the Forest Service, the fire restrictions are designed to "reduce fire risk, prevent human-caused wildland fires, protect property, and protect public health and safety during periods of high or extreme fire danger."

To date, 74 percent of the 27 wildfires burning in Montana have been human caused, according to the National Interagency Situation Reporting Program.

While Lewis and Clark County and HLCNF are under Stage 1 restrictions, most of west central and northwest Montana is under Stage 2 fire restrictions, including Powell County, just seven miles west of Lincoln.

The Powell County Commission approved Stage 2 fire restrictions for Powell County, July 19. citing the risk of extreme fire danger within the county. The restrictions went into effect July 20 at one minute after midnight.

Stage 2 restrictions for the Lolo National Forest, went into effect a few days earlier, on July 17. The Bureau of Land Management similarly imposed Stage 2 restrictions on its lands in Missoula, Granite and Powell counties.

The Powell County Stage 2 restrictions go further than Stage 1 by prohibiting all campfires, any fireworks, the operation of internal combustion engines, - except for agricultural work – welding or the use of acetylene or other torches, and the use of explosives.

Motor vehicles are allowed, but only on designated trails and roads. Likewise, devices such as stoves and lanterns, solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels are also allowed, but only in areas cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable material within three feet.

Some restrictions and exemptions vary by agency.

Despite exemptions to some restrictions, a person or organization can still be held liable if a fire is started by an exempted activity.

Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a statewide wildland fire emergency July 14.

"Montana faces critical fire conditions that pose significant threats to our communities, infrastructure, first responders and way of life," Gianforte said in a press release. "As our firefighters battle active fires across the state with more to come, this executive order helps ensure they have the suppression resources, supplies, and fuel they need to safely and aggressively respond."

For detailed information on fire restrictions in areas across the state, go to http://www.mtfireinfo.org, a new website by the Northern Rockies Coordination Group that provides a fire restriction map showing all agency restrictions, including links to the related restriction proclamations and details, as well as links to resources such as the NRCC, the DNRC Interactive Wildland Fire Map and the InciWeb Incident Information system.

As dry conditions continue and firefighting resources continue to be stretched thin by the fires across the western U.S., fire restrictions in the area are likely to increase throughout the rest of the summer.

* Updated to reflect information that came out of the Rural Fire Council meeting held Tuesday morning, just a few hours after the BVD went to press.

** Updated to clarify slight inaccuracies about the decision-making process in our print edition.

 

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