For those planning on doing some fall burning, the folks at Fire Adapted Kootenai are providing information to help keep it safe.

Fall can be a great time to clear brush, prune lower limbs from trees and improve the defensible space around your home while preparing for the next fire season.

But officials do remind those planning burns that they are responsible for any and all fire suppression costs if a fire escapes their control. 

According to state code, except as provided in state statute 50-63-104, a person who sets or leaves a fire that spreads and damages or destroys property of any kind not belonging to the person is liable for all damages caused by the fire, and an owner of property damaged or destroyed by the fire may maintain a civil suit for the purpose of recovering damages. 

A person who sets or leaves a fire that threatens to spread and damage or destroy property is liable for all costs and expenses incurred, including but not limited to expenses incurred in investigation of the fire and administration of fire suppression, by the state of Montana, by any forestry association, or by any person extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire.

County burn regulations can be found at lincolncountymt.us/environmental-health/air-quality.

Here’s a primer on fall and spring burning.

Burn permits are free in Lincoln County. Only one burn permit per burn address location is required each year. For example, for those who have three separate debris piles on their property, only one permit is needed. Also, for those burning on three different days on the same property, only one permit is necessary. 

But, for those owning two separate properties with a debris pile on each, then two separate burn permits are necessary.

For all burns located outside of the Libby Outdoor Burning Control Area, March 1 through April 30 is spring open burning season and no burn permit is required. From May 1 through June 30, burn permits are required. 

To obtain a free burn permit, go to https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/. 

For those without internet access, contact the local national forest or state forest office, or the Lincoln County Health Department at 406- 283-2442. 

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, fall open burning season is scheduled and no burn permit is required. For more information, please reference the Seasonal Schedule page or Get a Permit page. To determine if your property is within the Libby Outdoor Burning Control Area, go to https://www.fireadaptedkootenai.org/libby-outdoor-burning-control-area. 

The same applies for all residential burning located within the Libby Outdoor Burning Control Area in the spring. Burning is only allowed from April 1 through April 30. Residential burning during this timeframe requires a free burn permit.

For all Management Burning located within the Libby Air Pollution Control District, burning is only allowed from April 1 through June 30 and October 1 through October 31. Management Burning during this timeframe requires a free burn permit. To obtain a free burn permit for burn locations inside of the Libby Rural Fire District, contact the Fire Marshall at 406-283-1883 and for burn locations outside of the Libby Rural Fire District, contact the Lincoln County Forester at 406-283-2322. 

To determine if a burn location is located inside or outside of the Libby Rural Fire District, go to https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fff27d642c94773a1fadcb7/t/65dca9ff7ba3d152823eeaac/1708960256292/LibbyFireDistrict_Map.pdf to review the map.

Authorization for all management burns is also required. Call the Lincoln County Health Department at 406-283-2442 to obtain authorization. For more information please reference the Seasonal Schedule page or Get a Permit page. 

No burning is allowed from July 1 through Sept. 30 due to Montana’s wildfire season. The wildfire season may be extended as conditions warrant.

In addition to a burn permit, you are required by state law to comply with air quality regulations.

For all burns located outside of the Libby Outdoor Burning Control Area, check the ventilation and burning forecast before every burn by calling 1-800-225-6779.

For all burns located within the Libby Outdoor Burning Control Area, check the ventilation and burning forecast before every burn by calling (406) 293-5644.

For those who intend to burn, have in place:

A current weather forecast for your burn location;

Water source such as a charged hose, buckets, pond, lake, etc.;

- Fire tools (long-handled shovel, rake, hoe, etc.) or equipment depending on the size of your burn;

- Enough help to extinguish your fire if unexpected changes in fire behavior occur.

- A burn permit if burning during a timeframe or at a location where one is required. Follow the information provided under the “Seasonal Schedule.”

- Air quality compliance.