Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in effect

Two small lightning-caused fires near Rogers Pass, July 30, each about an acre in size, were knocked down quickly with water and retardant drops by aircraft. Although the fires were natural and not human caused, they served as a reminder of the high fire danger in the area and came the day before Stage 2 Fire restrictions went into effect throughout Lewis and Clark County at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 31.

Based on the recommendation of the Rural Fire Council and Sheriff Leo Dutton, Lewis and Clark County Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday, July 29 implementing the tighter restrictions, citing "the continuation of extreme fire weather, increasing risk of human-caused fire starts, and ongoing drought conditions."

The rains that fell over the area Sunday and Monday provided some relief, but were likely not enough to prompt a change to the Stage 2 restrictions.

The new restrictions include Lincoln and the upper Blackfoot, which went into Stage 1 restrictions July 27. Due to differences in climate, the areas of Lewis and Clark County west of the Continental Divide had been exempted from the initial Stage 1 restrictions enacted July 9. The decision to go into Stage 2 came after a meeting of the Fire Council Tuesday morning, July 27. (Word of the decision reached the BVD after our last issue, in which we reported Stage1 Fire restrictions were set to go into effect last weekend, went to press.)

According to a press release on the County's decision, the restrictions "limit activity on public and private land within the County boundaries that carry potential for fire starts given the dry, hot, and windy conditions that are forecast to persist."

Likewise, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest also implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions across the forest concurrently with the county.

"With firefighting resources stretched thin, and significant fire conditions, we are looking for available opportunities to prevent more wildfires this summer," said Acting Forest Supervisor Sara Mayben. "We urge folks to look for alternative ways to enjoy the forest that help us achieve our goal of preventing uncontrolled human starts."

Powell County has been under Stage 2 fire restrictions since July 19.

Stage 2 restrictions include a ban on all campfires, the use of fireworks (which are already banned in the National Forest) the operation of motorized vehicles off designated trails or roads and smoking outside a vehicle, a building or a three-foot diameter area cleared of anything flammable. Spark arrestors that are properly installed and operational, are required for all internal combustion engines, such as ATV's, chainsaws or generators.

The orders also implement "hoot-owl' restrictions for logging and firewood gathering, prohibiting the use of chainsaws or portable equipment powered by an internal combustion engine between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. A chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and round point shovel must be on hand for anyone using a chainsaw. Further, anyone working during the hoot owl hours also has to patrol the area for an hour after they finish working.

Devices like stoves and lanterns fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off are allowed, but only if flammable materials have been cleared from a three -foot diameter around it.

Some restrictions and exemptions vary by jurisdiction. For example, the National Forest prohibits the use of welders, grinders and torches with open flame outright, while the county includes them under their hoot owl restrictions.

Additionally, the county includes exemptions for infrastructure and utility work, agricultural work and construction site activities on private lands, provided fire suppression equipment is immediately available

For the time being, Lincoln is in slightly better shape than most other areas, but Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse said things are drying out fast, and both the large, thousand-hour fuels on the ground and the standing live trees are pretty dry.

He said the long dry spell the area has been going through has also had a negative effect on available water sources such as small lakes, ponds and reservoirs. He warned that could impact the availability of water in the area for firefighting if a large fire does happen.

"All it takes is one event and we're gonna have a bad month," he said. "We're just trying to do whatever we can to keep people educated and keep people looking around and helping us out, looking for smoke. But overall, we're doing OK.'

Muse reiterated other basic precautions people should take.

"Stay out of tall grass with your vehicles. It doesn't take much to ignite that. If you park there for just a second and take off, you could start a fire, or if you park there you could lose your vehicle," he said. "Watch your trailer chains and don't be throwing cigarette butts out the window."

Although firefighters caught and extinguished two small human-caused fires in the late spring, Muse said they haven't seen any since, but warned conditions are different now. "If we get a fire, it could carry quick and keep running."

As of Monday, the largest fire actively burning in Lewis and Clark County is the 3000-acre Dry Cabin Fire, a lightning-caused fire in the Scapegoat and Bob Marshal Wilderness Areas about 20 Miles north of Ovando.

The Harris Fire, a 28,000 acre lightning caused blaze burning primarily within Cascade County east of Craig, but the far west section is in Lewis and Clark County and poses a potential threat to residents in the Stickney Creek area.