Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, enforcement of Stage II fire restrictions across west central Montana went into effect. Emergency responders at the city, county, state, tribal and federal levels have been plagued by unattended campfires this fire season. Several wildfires have ignited and spread quickly through cured grass in the last two weeks as the area has come into Very High or Extreme fire danger.

With unseasonably high temperatures and high winds in the immediate forecast, fire managers need to limit the numbers of wildfires in the area. Stage II restrictions also address other common activities that can spark wildfires in the heat of the day: driving off-road and using tools, and engaging in activities with the potential to cause sparks and flames.

Last week was the hottest so far this summer with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Cooler temperatures have been forecasted, but high winds are also expected. Scarce precipitation in the past month means that grasses and forest vegetation is continuing to dry, and this trend is expected to continue. Any spark has the potential to ignite a wildfire.

INTERAGENCY FIRE managers understand that fire restrictions affect the public and refrain from implementing restrictions until they are determined to be necessary. Fire restrictions are re-evaluated by cooperating interagency fire managers each week and updated as the situation dictates. It is important that residents and visitors alike check with the appropriate land management agency or www.firerestrictions.us/mt to know if there are any fire restrictions in the area. Even if there are not restrictions in an area, the emergency responders are asking the public to please consider the risk of wildfire when engaged in similar activities.

STAGE 2 FIRE restrictions prohibit: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire; and smoking, except 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 all flammable materials.

The following acts are prohibited between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. daily, and a one-hour foot patrol in the work area is required following the cessation of all activities including; operating any internal combustible engine (except operating generators with an approved spark-arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the generator). Also prohibited is welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame; and also, using an explosive or operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.

An exception to the rules are persons using a fire solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.