Fire Restrictions - Missoula County MT Fire Danger

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT STAGE II RESTRICTIONS

1. How do I find out if my land is classified as forested? Montana Law defines forestland as land that has enough timber, standing or down, slash, or brush to constitute in the judgment of the department a fire menace to life or property. Grassland and agricultural areas are included when those areas are intermingled with or contiguous to and no further than one-half mile from areas of forestland. Your tax statement has this information about your land. If you cannot access your statement, check with your local unit office.

2. How do I know what a designated road or trail is? Call the local land management agency where you would like to go. If the land is classified as forested (see above), contact the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. If they are not, contact your local agency. They should be able to advise you and furnish maps of trails that are safe and open for use.

3. Do these restrictions apply to towns and/or private property? Many cities and towns in Montana also adopt the restrictions, and would therefore cover those areas inside their jurisdiction. County and city government may also impose further restrictions on private, city, or county-owned lands. These can be even more prohibitive than what is issued by the state.

4. Do these restrictions apply to valley bottom areas? Restrictions written by the Montana DNRC only apply to all state land and all state and private forested land. Restrictions written by county and other agencies generally apply to valley bottom area that is outside of the classified forestland. Violations/Penalties

5. If I conduct an activity that is restricted, can I be fined? Yes. The amounts may differ depending on the agency with authority in that area, but Montana State Law allows for a fine of up to six months in jail and $500.00.

6. Can I be held liable if I start a fire? Yes. You could be responsible for paying some or even all of the costs that it took to put the fire out. Check with the according agency on specific regulations.

7. If we don't know about the restrictions and/or they change can we be held responsible? Yes. It is your responsibility to know before you go. Campfires

8. Where is a designated campground that I can camp in and have a fire? To find a designated campsite depends on where you'd like to camp. Contact your land management agency about specific areas you would like to go. If we are in Stage II restrictions, campfires are prohibited.

9. It is cool and damp in the meadow (or beside the stream) where I camp; even though it's stage II restrictions, why cant I have a campfire? Making exceptions to allow campfires for individual recreation groups is impractical for agencies that have neither the time or people numbers to make on site inspections and write necessary documents. That's why restrictions are made for a general, across-the-board application - all users sacrifice in the interest of everyone.

10. Why can't I have a campfire when it's okay for farmers to burn fields and ditches? Since most agricultural land is not classified forested land, it will fall under the jurisdiction of the counties. Each county has their own regulations when it comes to allowing or exempting agricultural operations.