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October 5, 2021

Based on the recommendation of Sheriff Leo Dutton, in his capacity as Fire Warden, and the Rural Fire Council, the County Commissioners approved a resolution to rescind Stage 1 restrictions for areas east of the Continental Divide. Areas west of the Divide were not under any restrictions. This resolution goes into effect at 12:01am on October 6, 2021.

RESOLUTION 2021 – 89

A RESOLUTION TO RESCIND FIRE RESTRICTIONS

WHEREAS, this Resolution is issued in compliance with 7-33-2212 of the Montana Code Annotated, and

WHEREAS, the wildfire risk indicators have improved, and

WHEREAS, fire safe behavior is still recommended regardless of current fire restrictions.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, at the request of the Lewis & Clark County Fire Warden, pursuant to 7-33-2212 MCA, the Board of Commissioners rescind current Stage I Fire Restrictions for Lewis & Clark County.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution becomes effective Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:01am.

August 31, 2021

Based on the recommendation of Sheriff Leo Dutton, in his capacity as Fire Warden, and the Rural Fire Council, the County Commissioners approved a resolution to rescind Stage 2 fire restrictions county-wide, and reinstate Stage 1 restrictions for areas east of the Continental Divide. Areas west of the Divide are not under any restrictions. This resolution goes into effect at 12:01am on September 1, 2021.

RESOLUTION 2021 – 77

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND FIRE RESTRICTIONS

WHEREAS, this Resolution is issued in compliance with Section 7-33-2212 of the Montana Code Annotated and supersedes prior County resolutions 2021-57, 2021-64, and 2021-66;

WHEREAS, the wildfire risk indicators such as moisture and temperature, as well as national and regional resource availability have improved, and

WHEREAS, while heightened restrictions may still be in force on surrounding State and Federal lands.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, at the request of the Lewis & Clark County Fire Warden, pursuant to 7-33-2212 MCA, the Board of Commissioners rescind Resolution 2021-66 which established Stage II fire restrictions and return to Stage I restrictions east of the Continental Divide as outlined below.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following acts remain prohibited within Lewis and Clark County on private and public property east of the Continental Divide until further notice:

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 three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following is a list of exemptions:

1. 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.
2. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
3. Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.
4. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
5. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
6. All land within a City boundary is exempted.
7. Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution becomes effective Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 12:01am, and shall remain in effect until such time as it is amended or rescinded by the Board of County Commissioners.

July 29, 2021

In recognition of the continuation of extreme fire weather, increasing risk of human-caused fire starts, and ongoing drought conditions, Lewis and Clark County Board of County Commissioners today approved a resolution for Stage 2 fire restrictions. The resolution becomes effective at 12:01am, Saturday, July 31.

RESOLUTION 2021 – 66

A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH STAGE TWO FIRE RESTRICTIONS

WHEREAS, this Resolution is issued in compliance with Sections 7-1-101 and 7-33-2212 of the Montana Code Annotated;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, at the request of the Lewis & Clark County Fire Warden, supported by the Rural Fire Council, pursuant to 7-33-2212 MCA, the Board of Commissioners designate Lewis & Clark County lands a high fire hazard area;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following acts are prohibited at any time on private and public property until further notice:

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 three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
3. The use of fireworks.
4. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.

The below acts are prohibited from 1:00pm to 1:00am. Additionally, a one-hour patrol in the work area is required following the cessation of all activities as identified in 1-3 below.

1. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, or firewood gathering.
2. Outdoor welding or operating acetylene or other type torch with open flame.
3. Using any explosive.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that the aforementioned restrictions are subject to the following exemptions, which do not relieve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity:

1. Persons with written authorization from the Lewis and Clark County Commissioners that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
2. Persons using a cooking device fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on or off, or, within the confines of residential use, a commercial barbeque that utilized charcoal briquettes.
3. 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.
4. Operating motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails.
5. Repair, maintenance, and construction of infrastructure, public utilities, and railroads.
6. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by official written posted notice.
7. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in the performance of an official duty.
8. All land within a city boundary is exempted.
9. Agricultural activity (other than open burning), including operating agricultural machinery, unrelated to forest harvest if operational fire extinguisher or fire suppression equipment is immediately available.
10. Residential and commercial lawn and grounds maintenance.
11. Construction site activities on private lands, including construction of roads, utilities, and residential or commercial structure, if operational fire extinguisher or fire suppression equipment is immediately available.
12. Operations of private business to the extent that this resolution compels the private business to deny a customer of the private business access to the premises or access to the goods or services, or denies a customer of a private business the ability to access goods or services provided by the private business, pursuant to 7-5-121(2) MCA.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution becomes effective at 12:01am, Saturday, July 31, and shall remain in effect until such time as it is amended or rescinded by the Board of County Commissioners.

July 27, 2021

The Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution today to extend Stage 1 Fire Restrictions to areas west of the Continental Divide, effective immediately until further notice.  

Text of the Resolution:

RESOLUTION 2021 – 64

A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH STAGE ONE FIRE RESTRICTIONS WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

WHEREAS, this Resolution is issued in compliance with Sections 7-1-101 and 7-33-2205 of the Montana Code Annotated;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the following acts are prohibited on private and public property west of the Continental Divide until further notice:

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 three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following is a list of exemptions:

1. 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.
2. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
3. Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.
4. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
5. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
6. All land within a City boundary is exempted.
7. Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.

July 20, 2021

The most up to date information related to fire response or evacuation notices will be posted on the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page 

There are many fires burning across the states of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California that are contributing to the smoke and haze visible around the county. Close to home, first responders quickly got fires under control in Grizzly Gulch and up near Park Lake outside of Helena last week and fire continues to burn in the Scapegoat Wilderness. According to today's DEQ Wildfire Smoke Report, the dominant high pressure ridge over the weekend and in to this week is keeping temperatures hot and the smoke is generally sticking around ground level, especially overnight.

The National Weather Service continues to share fire weather concerns with the current forecast. Today's summary says: "Moisture and weak weather disturbances moving around an upper level high pressure ridge centered over the 4-corners region will bring a chance of thunderstorms each day through Thursday. Temperatures will remain much warmer than seasonal averages but afternoon humidity will not be as low through Wednesday. By Thursday, the feed of moisture will shift south and east of the area as the high pressure ridge is flattened some by a weather system moving into western Canada. This will result in a weak frontal system moving east across the area late Thursday with increased winds. Strongest winds with gusts over 30 mph are possible late Thursday along the Rocky Mountain Front and western portions of north-central MT with drier and widespread breezy conditions following on Friday." 

We continue to ask all residents and visitors to be fire aware and follow ALL local fire restrictions. As a reminder - the best resources for the latest fire information are listed below in "Related Links" and include helpful maps from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, DNRC, and DEQ.

July 9, 2021

The Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution today to adopt Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, effective 12:01am Saturday, July 10, 2021 until further notice. Public and private property west of the Continental Divide is exempt. 

Text of the Resolution:

RESOLUTION 2021 – 57

A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH STAGE ONE FIRE RESTRICTIONS

WHEREAS, this Resolution is issued in compliance with Sections 7-1-101 and 7-33-2205 of the Montana Code Annotated;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the following acts are prohibited on private and public property east of the Continental Divide until further notice:

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 three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following is a list of exemptions:

1. 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.
2. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
3. Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.
4. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
5. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
6. All land within a City boundary is exempted.
7. Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.

June 23, 2021