Another quiet week for local fires

It has been another tame week for fires in this region of Montana as counties across the area report little fire activity and National Weather Service predicts a wet rest of the week.

In a regional fire call Tuesday the National Weather Service in Glasgow reported that the area is predicted to get noticeable rainfall in the next few days, which will bring down temperatures and ease fire conditions through the weekend.

The service reported that some areas may see over an inch of rain, but it will certainly vary.

They said it looks like things will get hotter and dryer after Sunday, but a lot could change between now and then, so it’s hardly a guarantee.

As for the past week, despite some dangerous fire weather, most counties in the area saw very little fire activity, with many reporting no fires at all for the past seven days.

Blaine, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, and Roosevelt counties saw no fires at all while Daniels County only saw one fire that was contained to a single combine.

Hill County saw one small fire and Sheridan lost 10 acres to a fire this past week.

Phillips had two fires, the first of which only burned one acre, and the other between 30 and 40 acres.

None of the counties elected to change their fire restrictions, with Golden Valley, Blaine and Petroleum counties sticking with their burn bans and Hill County and Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation staying in Stage 1 fire restrictions.

Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptions below or as designated in the specific closure order.

Smoking is allowed within enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Exemptions to these restrictions include people with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act, and people 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.

People conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice are also exempt, as are federal, state or local officers or members of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.