At a recent Mineral County Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting, the question of burning permits was discussed. West End Fire Trustee, Doug Schultz, indicated that there has been some confusion when West End residents called for burning permission.

The perception is that the state, county and Forest Service have different answers when residents ask for permission to burn. George Gupton, chair of the planning committee, contacted the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for clarification.

According to Rhonda Payne, of Montana DEQ Permitting Services Section, during the Fall Ventilation period of Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, the agency posts restrictions based at the county level.  Residents can call the Montana Smoke Management Program Ventilation Hotline for burning restrictions.  

However, residents also need to contact local fire departments and the Forest Service for permit information. The Hotline explains this by saying, “...every county has the ability to restrict ignition for various reasons which would supersede Montana DEQ’s forecast which is based only on favorable air quality, and so it’s important that every burner check county restrictions prior to ignition.”

In other words, even if air quality is acceptable for burning, burning may still be restricted, for example, because of dry conditions. Therefore, residents need to contact both DEQ and local agencies.

According to Gupton, the Nine-Mile Ranger District extends through Fish Creek for Alberton area residents. The Forest Service in Superior extends from Tarkio. Residents should check with these agencies prior to burning.

“Also, contact local fire departments (when residents want to burn), just to let them know,” Gupton said, “that would be the Frenchtown Fire Department in Alberton, and the departments in Superior, St. Regis or Haugen.

As of Dec. 1, there is no open burning due to air quality inversions. Burning will be restricted until Feb. 28.

The DEQ operates a year-round open burning program, and also issues air quality open burning permits for specific types of open burning, including trade waste, firefighter training, Christmas tree waste, major open burning, and commercial film production.