Tribes, county and FWP authorize Stage 1 fire restrictions

As of Tuesday morning, the CSKT Division of Fire reported that a small blaze on Minesinger Trail, southeast of Polson, was completely contained and had been kept to four acres.

The fire was reported last Friday and was met with a bulldozer, which opened a nearby abandoned road, and air support.

The blaze began as fire danger on the Flathead Reservation remained at Very High, and a Red Flag warning was issued for the weekend due to extremely windy conditions, which have since subsided.

Meanwhile, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council has instituted Stage 1 fire restrictions on the Flathead Reservation. According to a press release, this prohibits the following acts until further notice:

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site or improved site;

• 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.

For more information, contact  C.T. Camel, Fire Prevention Specialist, at 406-676-2550 ext. 6407 or [email protected]

FWP also declares Stage 1 

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced in a press release on Monday, Aug. 10, that state parks, fishing access sites, wildlife management areas and all other lands managed by FWP have entered Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning Aug. 7.

This action followed Stage 1 restrictions put in place by Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and will be in place until further notice. 

According to the press release, under Stage 1 fire restrictions, campfires are generally prohibited unless an exemption is in place. However, FWP sites in Lake County are exempt because campfires are only allowed in the designated steel fire grates provided at those locations. 

Outside of these designated rings, campfires are not allowed. Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites or areas at least 3 feet in diameter that are cleared of flammable materials. Cooking is permitted on liquid petroleum gas or propane stoves that can be turned off.

FWP advises that people use caution while recreating due to dry conditions and fire danger. 

For updates on FWP restrictions and closures around the state, visit fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions.