Fire restrictions lifting Friday in Blaine, Hill counties, Fort Belknap

Staff and wire report

With cooler weather and precipitation falling, fire restrictions will be lifted in Hill and Blaine counties and the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation this weekend, although burn permits will not be issued in Blaine County.

“We’re lifting Stage 1 restrictions but were keeping a county-wide fire ban,” Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest said this morning.

Hill County will consider burn permit applications starting Friday morning.

With hot, dry, windy weather and numerous small fires occurring in the region, the counties had imposed Stage 1 fire restrictions and a complete burning ban in Beaver Creek Park.

Friday morning at 12:01 a.m., the bans will be lifted.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced that, following county officials’ recommendations, the department’s fishing access sites and other properties in Blaine, Hill, and Sheridan counties also will no longer have Stage 1 fire restrictions as of 12:01 a.m. Friday.

FWP said in a release that this action follows Phillips County, which lifted last week.

“In summary, there are no more Stage 1 restrictions in any county in Region 6,” the release said. “Where normally allowed on FWP property, campfires will again be permissible.”

People are asked heed all signs posted on FWP properties on whether fires are permissible. For updates on restrictions and closures around the state, go to http://www.fwp.mt.gov and under the “news” tab, click on “drought and fire.”

The Stage 1 restrictions in place until Friday.