Tag Archives: Stage 1 fire restrictions

Flathead National Forest eases fire restrictions to Stage I

September 5, 2015Fire Information and Status, NewsFlathead National Forest, Stage 1 fire restrictionsnfpa

Fire restrictions ease a bit to Stage I in the Flathead National Forest starting today. Other federal and state lands will likely follow suit. Commissioner gridlock will probably keep Flathead County at Stage II restrictions over the long weekend.

Here’s the meat of the Flathead Forest press release announcing the changes . . .

Weather conditions have been a contributing factor for the Flathead National Forest to move the current fire restrictions to Stage I, which become effective at 0001 a.m. Mountain daylight time on Saturday, September 5, 2015. Under Stage I, stove fires, campfires and charcoal fires are allowed ONLY at developed recreation sites (See the list below or contact your local agency for a list of sites), fires within rock fire rings are not authorized. Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle or building; a developed recreation site; or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of flammable materials. There will be no fire restrictions within the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness areas within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

The restrictions may continue into the hunting season until the area receives enough moisture to ensure that wildfire starts will be at a minimum. Hunters need to check for restrictions in the area they plan to be, and adhere to those restrictions accordingly.

Fire Danger is currently at level High. When the fire danger is “high”, fires can start easily from most causes and small fuels (such as grasses and needles) will ignite readily. Unattended campfires and brush fires are likely to escape. Fires will spread easily, with some areas of high-intensity burning on slopes or concentrated fuels; so always crush smokes dead out; never leave a campfire unattended; ensure that your vehicle has a properly installed spark arrester that is operational; stop and park only in areas clear of vegetation;

For further information contact the Flathead National Forest at (406) 758-5200 or visit the Flathead National Forest web page, www.fs.usda.gov/flathead and http://firerestrictions.us.

Continue reading . . .

Also read: Flathead County Stays at Stage 2 Fire Restrictions for Long Weekend (Flathead Beacon)

Fire restrictions for back country of Glacier Park, Northwest Montana

August 12, 2015Fire Information and Status, NewsGlacier National Park, Northwest Montana, Stage 1 fire restrictionsnfpa

Smoke Plume from the Thompson Fire as seen from Logan Pass - NPS PHOTO-Andrew Englehorn — Smoke Plume from the Thompson Fire as seen from Logan Pass – NPS PHOTO-Andrew Englehorn

From an August 11, 2015 Glacier National Park press release . . .

As of Wednesday, August 12, campfires will not be allowed in the back country of Glacier National Park. Campfires will continue to be allowed only in designated sites in front country campgrounds.

Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said, “The park is experiencing extreme fire conditions and to help reduce the risk of fire, we are implementing fire restrictions for our back country campgrounds and recreation sites.” Mow continued, “The back country restrictions will help to protect public and employee safety, as well as protect park resources and facilities.”

Only liquid petroleum or LPG-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices will be allowed in back country campgrounds in Glacier National Park.

At this time, campfires are only allowed in park-provided metal or concrete fire rings located in front country campgrounds in Glacier National Park. These campgrounds include:

Apgar
Avalanche
Bowman Lake
Cut Bank
Fish Creek
Kintla Lake
Logging Creek
Many Glacier
Quartz Lake
Sprague Creek
St. Mary
Two Medicine

PLEASE NOTE: Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect for Northwest Montana. Stage I fire restrictions apply to campfires and smoking. During Stage I, “Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire” is prohibited unless noted in the exemptions. Exemptions include fires fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG, or other activities for which there is a permit or written authorization. In addition to the campfire restrictions, smoking is prohibited unless within an enclosed vehicle, building, or in an area three feet in diameter, that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. Stage 1 restrictions apply to:

* Flathead National Forest
* Kootenai National Forest
* Bob Marshall Wilderness Lands within the Flathead National Forest
* Glacier National Park
* Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
* U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
* MT-DNRC Northwestern Land Office
* Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 1
* Counties: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders
* Property within city limits in the area are EXEMPT from this order

The restrictions will remain in effect until there is a significant long-term change in fire danger.

Stage 1 fire restrictions now in effect

July 1, 2015Fire Information and Status, NewsStage 1 fire restrictions, wildfire informationnfpa

Stage 1 fire restrictions are now in effect throughout the region. Here’s the meat of the press release. Read the full text over at the NF News site . . .

Conditions are right for wildland fires.

As a precaution, Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders Counties at 0001 a.m. on Friday the 3^rd of July 2015. This includes all private, state, and federally (Forest Service, Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service) managed lands in these counties. Fire Restrictions also go into effect on the Bob Marshall Wilderness lands within the Flathead National Forest. Completely contained wood stoves with a fire screen or spark arrester are allowed ONLY in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, instead of campfires.

Under Stage 1, fires are prohibited except within developed recreation sites (contact your local agency for a list of sites), and smoking is allowed only in areas cleared of flammable materials. Exemptions include fires fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG, or other activities for which there is a permit or written authorization.

Continue reading at NF News . . .

Western Montana counties, including Flathead, to rescind Stage I fire restrictions

September 20, 2011Fire Information and Status, NewsStage 1 fire restrictions, wildfiresnfpa

From today’s Missoulian . . .

Federal and state wildland fire agencies will rescind Stage I fire restrictions on Wednesday throughout much of western Montana.

Included in the order are Flathead, Lake, Mineral, Sanders, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, Granite, Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties.

Restrictions will remain in effect on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Continue reading . . .

Stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect for Flathead County

September 8, 2011Fire Information and Status, NewsFlathead County, Stage 1 fire restrictions, wildfire informationnfpa

From the Hungry Horse News , , ,

A fire on the south side of Big Mountain and another in Marion drove home the point of the Flathead County Commissioners in imposing Stage 1 fire restrictions on private property in Flathead County…

As fire crews battled the two fires – both likely human-caused – and facing persistent hot and dry conditions that continued to fuel fires, the Flathead County Commissioners approved Stage 1 fire restrictions on Sept. 6.

The restrictions ban fireworks, require that campfires have a fire ring no larger than three feet in diameter and limits smoking to buildings, vehicles or areas that are cleared of vegetation…

Continue reading . . .