Find current fire restriction information by county for the state of Montana at MTFire.org
What Fire Restrictions Mean To You
Common activities and how they are affected by Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions are shown below. See the full definition of Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions below this chart.
Stage I
Stage II
Closure
Campfire or Other Fire *
No Fires - unless site is posted with specific exemptions
No Fires
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators
Smoking *
No, unless within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or area 3 feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials
No, unless within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or area 3 feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators
Operating any internal combustion engine **
N/A
Prohibited from 1 PM to 1 AM Daily
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators
Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame **
N/A
Prohibited from 1 PM to 1 AM Daily
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators
Using an explosive **
N/A
Prohibited from 1 PM to 1 AM Daily
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators
Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails
N/A
Prohibited
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators
* land within city boundaries is exempt
** a patrol is required for 2 hours following cessation of all activities as identified above
Violations:
You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment upto 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.
You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.
Stage 1
The following acts are prohibited until further notice:
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptionsbelow.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or whilestopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammablematerials.
Exemptions:
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 andoff. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead andsurrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.
Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specificallyauthorized by written posted notice.
Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force inthe performance of an official duty.
All land within a city boundary is exempted.
Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
Campfires allowed within established steel fire grates at all state parks and some fishing access sites under State I Fire Restrictions—consult the FWP Restrictions and Closures page or the nearest FWP regional office for listing of fishing access sites where fires are allowed in established steel fire grates.
Violations:
You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment upto 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.
You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.
Stage 2
The following acts are prohibited until further notice:
1. Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or whilestopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammablematerials.
3. The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.:
Operating any internal combustion engine.
Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
Using an explosive.
A one hour foot patrol in the work area is required followingcessation of all activities as identified in #3 above.
4. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
Exemptions:
Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
Persons using a device fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on andoff. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead andsurrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.
Operating generators with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle orbuilding or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammablematerials within three feet of the generator.
Operating motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails.
Emergency repair of public utilities and railroads as per attached conditions.
Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specificallyauthorized by written posted notice.
Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force inthe performance of an official duty.
All land within a city boundary is exempted.
Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
Violations:
You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment upto 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.
You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.
Closure Guidelines
The Geographic Agency Administrators within the Northern Rockies Geographic Area should review these evaluation guidelines and determine threshold levels that substantiate the need for closures.
Examples include:
Potential loss of life due to explosive fire conditions.
Potential for extreme or blowup fire behavior.
Stage II restrictions are not effective in reducing the number of human-caused fires.
Resources across the geographic area are at a critical shortage level.
Exemptions:
The following standard exemptions will be allowed during closure and will be noted on all closure documents.
Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
Emergency repair of public utilities and railroads as per attached conditions.
Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specificallyauthorized by written posted notice.
Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force inthe performance of an official duty.
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptionsbelow.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or whilestopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammablematerials.
3. The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.:
4. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.