New restrictions on building a campfire or smoking on public lands start Monday across new portions of northwestern Montana.
The Stage II fire restrictions will take effect as the state faces a severe drought, continued forecast for hot, dry weather and firefighting resources stretched thin across the western U.S.
Beth Pargman is with the Flathead National Forest:
“It’s important for folks recreating on public lands to do their part. Each year, 70-80 percent of wildfires are human-caused, and anything that we can have the public’s help in doing to prevent those human starts is greatly appreciated.”
Earlier this month Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a wildland fire state of emergency in Montana. In that announcement, Gianforte said about 78 percent of the wildfires that had burned over 141,000 acres in the state at that time were human-caused.
Stage II Fire Restrictions to begin across NW Montana
Dennis Bragg photo
By: MTN News
and last updated 2021-07-22 18:40:41-04
KALISPELL â The wildfire danger level is set to rise once again across northwest Montana.
Stage II Fire Restrictions will go begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 26 across the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sites, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Kalispell, Stillwater, and Swan Units, and Flathead County.
Interagency fire managers note the goal of the higher fire restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger.
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