Stage 1 fire restrictions to start in Hill County

Press release

The Hill County Commission issued the following notice about the fire restrictions going into effect in the county Friday.

In all of Hill County, in a joint effort between Disaster and Emergency Services, Hill County Commission, Beaver Creek Park superintendent and U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the following has been implemented:

As of Friday, July 23, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., Stage 1 fire restrictions will be in effect. The following will be prohibited and punishable by law until further notice:

• Building and maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptions below.

• This is for all of Hill County including Beaver Creek Park, Fresno Dam area and Rocky Boy.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Exemptions:

• Persons with a written permit that specifically authorized 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 of cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of device.

• Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written post.

• Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

• All land within a city boundary is exempted. (Editors note, See press release from City of Havre online.)

• Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.

Absolutely no burning, no camp fires, no fire, no fire pit fires are allowed in Beaver Creek Park, the Hi-Line area or Fresno Dam area.

• Montana state law requires that anyone who causes a fire will be financially liable for damages and suppression costs.

• An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempt activity.