Stage 2 fire rules lifted
Kalispell Fire fighters Adam Smart, left and Jake Hall right, make their way further into the scene of a grassfire near Apple Way on Wednesday afternoon, June 21, in Kalispell. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
The strict stage 2 fire restrictions that have been in place across Northwest Montana for most of the summer will officially be lifted Wednesday.
Campfires and use of internal combustion engines and off-road travel will once again be allowed, however residents are reminded that open burning does not start until Oct. 1.
Jurisdictions rescinding the stage 2 restrictions include:
- Glacier National Park
- Flathead National Forest
- Kootenai National Forest
- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- Stimson, Stoltze, and Weyerhaeuser companies
Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties will each be rescinding restrictions independently and effective immediately upon signature of resolutions by respective county commissioners, Ali Ulwelling of the DNRC stated in a press release.
The city of Whitefish will also rescinded the restrictions.
“We were very lucky that the starts we did have in the area were handled quickly,” noted Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page. “Cooperation amongst all Flathead County fire departments was exceptional, especially with resources stretched so thin.”
Northwest Montana was in very high to extreme fire danger and stage 2 fire restrictions for 53 days.
Land management agencies across the area have been meeting once a week to discuss the fire danger and decided after the recent rain it was safe to finally lift the stage 2 restrictions.
“The moisture has helped the fire fuels recover,” Ulwelling told the Inter Lake. “And we’re looking at a few more days of cool temperatures and more rain.”
“We’re all grateful to see the rain and be out of stage 2.”
Northwest Montana was in very high to extreme fire danger and stage 2 fire restrictions for 53 days.
DNRC is currently rating fire danger as high, while the Flathead Forest is rating the danger as moderate.
Residents are reminded that, while recent rain across the area has affected forest fuel conditions and aided fire suppression efforts, long-term forecasts predict a warm dry fall.
“Please continue to take care, as it will take time for critically dry forest fuels to rebound from the historically low moistures of this summer,” Ulwelling said.