Burn restrictions going into effect

Blaine and Hill counties are going under countywide fire restrictions Friday with a complete wood fire ban going into effect on Beaver Creek Park at the same time.

A notice from joint fire prevention and control agencies released Wednesday afternoon said, effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect in the two counties — on all state, private and Bureau of Land Management lands — and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, which is in both Blaine and Phillips counties.

Hill County Commission Chair Mark Peterson said in an email that at 12:01 a.m. Friday a burn ban restricting all campfires will go into effect in Beaver Creek Park.

Peterson’s email said the park burn ban is due to extremely dry conditions in the region. People on the park can use devices fueled by liquid petroleum or liquified petroleum gas which can be turned on and off. Those devices only may be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable material within 3 feet of the device.

The topic arose during this week’s Hill County Park Board meeting. Beaver Creek Park Superintendent Chad Edgar said with dry conditions and the heat expected this week he wanted a ban.

Several people said that, especially after last year’s East Fork Fire which burned nearly 22,000 acres in the Bear Paw Mountains including the south edge of Beaver Creek Park, a ban seemed like a good idea.

National Weather Service reports the high at the reporting station at the Havre City-County Airport hit 103 degrees Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., and the forecast for today is a high of 101, 107 Friday and 102 Saturday. The temperatures are expected to cool off Sunday with a high of 86 degrees and highs in the 80s early next week.

It also comes during a shortfall in accumulated precipitation. While the area has seen rain, at the Havre reporting station July came in far behind the norm, at .49 inches of precipitation instead of 1.64 inches.

So far in August, the station has recorded .31 inches, just ahead of the norm of .27 inches.

For the calendar year, the station has recorded an inch less than normal. Normally by Aug. 8 the station records 7.83 inches compared to this year’s 6.81 inches.

No rain is in the forecast for Havre through next Wednesday.

Weather Service issued a heat advisory in effect from noon today through 9 p.m. Friday through the region and a fire weather watch is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening.

While the regional heat advisory is in effect through Friday night, with a high of 102 expected Saturday, people in the area of continued heat should continue to take care.

“The combination of hot temperatures will create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible,” the Weather Service advisory said. “Take extra precautions, if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

“Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles,” the advisory added. “This is especially true during hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”

The joint Stage 1 fire restriction release, issued by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Forest Service and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and County Firewardens, lists the restrictions implemented in a Stage 1:

“Stage 1 fire restrictions apply to campfires and smoking. Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

• Campfires and other fires are prohibited except in approved recreation sites, as designated on the fire prevention order. 

• 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. 

  “Exemptions to the above Stage 1 prohibitions include the following:

• 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 three 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 or jurisdiction.

“The public is urged to be extremely cautious during this fire season. Even the smallest spark has the potential to cause significant damage, so please do your part to prevent wildfires: crush cigarettes dead out and never leave a campfire unattended. Take precautions while recreating on public lands by always carrying a shovel, bucket and fire extinguisher in your vehicle or keeping them nearby and readily available.  Make sure your campfire is dead out before leaving your campsite.

“Fireworks are prohibited on all state and federal lands. Exploding targets available for sale to recreational shooters are considered a pyrotechnic product and are prohibited on federally managed lands year round. 

“Any individual who causes a wildfire intentionally or through negligence will be held accountable for damage and suppression costs.

“For more information on fire restrictions, visit the fire restrictions website at http://www.firerestrictions.us or contact Lewistown Area Restrictions Coordinator Shannon Bonney at 406-538-1942.”