The current fire danger in Flathead Country is EXTREME. Check Wildland Fire Information for Travelers for updates.
Know what fire restrictions are currently in place. A list and map of current Montana fire restrictions can be found here: https://www.mtfireinfo.org/pages/restrictions
What do fire stage restrictions mean? Here are definitions from https://www.mtfireinfo.org/pages/restrictions
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are currently in place for nearly all of northwest Montana.
City of Whitefish: Stage 2 Restrictions
Glacier National Park: Stage 2 Restrictions: Current GNP Fire Information
Flathead County: Stage 2 Restrictions
Lake County: Stage 2 Restrictions
Lincoln County: Stage 2 Restrictions
Sanders County: Stage 2 Restrictions
Flathead National Forest: Stage 2 Restrictions (includes Hungry Horse, Glacier View, Swan Lake, Spotted Bear and Tally Ranger Districts to include the Great Bear Wilderness, Mission Mountain Wilderness, and the Flathead National Forest portion of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.)
Kootenai National Forest: Stage 2 Restrictions (includes Rexford, Fortine, Three Rivers, Libby and Cabinet Ranger Districts.)
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT): State 2 Restrictions
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, including Kalispell, Libby, Stillwater, Swan and Plains Units: Stage 2 Restrictions
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks within Flathead, Lincoln, and Sanders counties. Stage 2 Restrictions.
US Fish & Wildlife Service
F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Company: No public access of any kind. (This includes the Whitefish Trail section in Haskill Basin.)
Green Diamond Resource Company: Not allowing fires on their lands.
Flathead Ridge Ranch: Prohibits campfires on their lands.
Southern Pine Plantation of Montana timberlands in Lincoln, Sanders, and Flathead counties are not allowing fires.
Stimson Lumber Company: Not allowing fires on their lands.
The intent of Fire Restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition. Each year, 70 to 80% of wildfires are human-caused and this summer the trend has continued. Northwest Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions including extremely dry forest fuels and weather forecasts of high temperatures accompanied by wind, low humidity, and minimal precipitation. Fires continue to burn across Montana and the West where firefighting resources are in high demand.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Prohibit:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptions below.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Stage 1 Exemptions:
Note: An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.
- Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
- Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.
- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- All land within a city boundary is exempted.
- Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Prohibit:
- Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire.
- EXEMPTION: Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding materials within three feet of the device.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
- The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 pm to 1:00 am, and a one-hour foot patrol in the work area is required following the cessation of all activities as identified below:
- Operating any internal combustion engine. (EXEMPTIONS: Operating generators with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the generator.)
- Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
- Using an explosive.
- Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
Stage 2 Exemptions:
Note: An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity.
- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written permit that specifically authorizes the activity.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- All land within a city boundary is exempted. Review local ordinances specific to jurisdiction.
- Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
More detail and additional exemptions can be found at: https://www.mtfireinfo.org/
Air Quality
Flathead County has an air quality monitoring station located in Columbia Falls that monitors for fine particles (smoke). Please visit http://todaysair.mtdeq.us/ and follow the restrictions based on the air quality index. The recommendations for outdoor activity based on air quality is as follows:
- Good (green): No restrictions.
- Moderate (yellow): Sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange): People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
- Unhealthy (red): People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion.
- Very Unhealthy (purple): Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when air quality is better.
- Hazardous (maroon): Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors.
An air quality monitoring map for the United States and Canada can be viewed here: https://aqicn.org/map/northamerica/
- Know your risk and do your part to prevent accidental wildfire ignitions this summer.
- Never discard cigarettes, matches or smoking materials on the ground.
- Maintain and clean any logging, farming, or lawn equipment before use.
- Ensure trailer chains are properly secured to prevent dragging which can cause sparks.
- Avoid driving or parking your vehicle, ATV, or UTV on dry grass.
- Debris burning is prohibited in NW Montana during July, August and September.
