Debris burning illegal during winter months

Debris burning is closed for the winter months of December, January and February on the Flathead Reservation.

According to a press release from the CSKT Division of Fire, when the temperature drops and cold air blankets the ground, any warm air is forced to pass over it, forming a kind of cap that can prevent the smoke from dispersing.

“You can think of this as a sort of smoke-catching blanket that covers the ground when it’s winter,” says Fire Management Specialist C.T. Camel. “Cold air is denser and moves slower than warm air. This density means that cold air traps the smoke but also doesn’t whisk it away.”

Smoke remains in place for much longer during the winter, causing people to inhale it at a higher rate than during the summer, he added.

Open debris burning starts March 1 and continues through April 30; no burn permits are required during this time period.

For more information call the Division of Fire at 406-676-2550 or visit the department’s Facebook page.