Lewis & Clark County enacts Stage 1 fire restrictions

The action comes during a bleak fire season in which the county has recently been the site of the Horse Gulch fire, which burned 15,167 acres near York between July 9-26, and the Black Mountain fire, which started Monday northwest of Lincoln and is burning now.

The Lewis and Clark Rural Fire Council recommended Stage 1 fire restrictions to the county fire warden. The U.S. Forest Service implemented Stage 1 measures earlier.

According to the resolution approved 3-0 by the commission, the restrictions take effect immediately. The resolution was supported by the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Under the restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptions below.

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

• Campfires on private or public property only if they are within an improved fire ring or pit made of solid metal, stone or cement and no larger than 48 inches across.
• People with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
• People using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.
• People doing activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

Mtfireinfo.org on Tuesday posted there were 56 active fires burning in Montana and there have been 1,111 fires so far.