County imposes Stage 2 fire restrictions

Stage 2 fire restrictions have been imposed on all private lands in Flathead County, effective immediately.

Noting forecasts for at least another week continued hot, dry weather, the county commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the restrictions early Wednesday afternoon.

Surrounding counties already have enacted Stage 2 restrictions. The restrictions begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday for Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest.

The restrictions ban the use of fires or campfires. Smoking outdoors is prohibited, except at developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material. The use of fireworks also is prohibited under the restrictions.

Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails is prohibited except for people engaged in a business or occupation where off-road travel is required. Off-road operators are required to have fire extinguishers and fire tools with them.

The operation of internal-combustion engines is restricted from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., along with welding, acetylene or other torches with an open flame, and the use of explosives during those hours.

Barbecue grills may be used on private property in areas that are barren or closely mowed and cleared of all surrounding flammable materials.

Other exemptions include operating motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails, emergency repair of public roads, utilities and railways, agricultural activities and people with a written permit that authorizes an otherwise prohibited act.

An exemption also will be made for people using a device fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid propane gas that can be turned off and on in an area that is barren or mowed and cleared of flammable materials.

The county’s Stage 2 restrictions don’t apply to property within incorporated city boundaries.

Flathead County Fire Manager Lincoln Chute said 120 wildland fire calls in the county have been logged since July 1, with 22 logs in the last four days — four on Saturday, eight on Sunday, seven on Monday and three on Tuesday. Most were human caused, he told the commissioners on Wednesday.

Commissioner Phil Mitchell said he supports the county taking a proactive approach by placing the Stage 2 restrictions.

“We’re drying out quickly,” he added. “The next 10 days it doesn’t look we’ll be under 90 degrees. I’m really worried.”

Instead of adopting the proposed resolution for Stage 2 restrictions drafted by local emergency officials, the commissioners instead opted to simplify the resolution and incorporate language from a similar fire order for Stage 2 restrictions issued for the Northern Rockies Area outside of North Dakota.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist said she found the county’s proposed resolution too wordy.

“I’m wondering if we’re making it more than it should be,” she said, suggesting the commissioners instead consider a 2007 resolution for Stage 2 restrictions that was a pared-down version.

Some of the commissioners’ discussion focused on their reluctance to impose restrictions on people’s ability to do their jobs in the outdoors. There was similar reluctance in 2015 during an extreme wildfire year as the commissioners considered Stage 2 restrictions and adopted modified rules for private lands in the county.

Sheriff Chuck Curry said there are compelling reasons for Flathead County skipping Stage 1 and going directly to Stage 2 restrictions.

“In our professional opinion the fires we’ve seen started in the last week or two have had very dangerous behavior,” Curry said. “They’re spreading very quickly. We’re fortunate we had initial attack and had it not been for 10 or 15 minutes in some cases we’d be choking on smoke.

“Other than what we’ve got for initial attacks, we have no resources,” the sheriff cautioned. “Everything has been sucked up around us. We’ve been kind of lucky up until now. We’re just starting fire season and we’re very concerned professionally what could happen.”

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.