Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Take Effect on FWP Properties in Phillips and Sheridan Counties

In response to dry, warm weather that could increase the danger of human-caused wildfires, under the recommendations of county officials, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks fishing access sites (FASs) and wildlife management areas (WMAs) are now under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Phillips co. and on Brush Lake State Park in Sheridan co. Both counties will enter Stage 1 restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 17. These Stage 1 restrictions join both Hill and Blaine counties, who went into restrictions last week.

County officials in those counties enacted the Stage 1 restrictions, which ban campfires except where specifically exempted. Landowners and agencies in those counties may or may not exempt specific sites. Stage 1 restrictions also prohibit smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, and in areas at least three feet in diameter that are cleared of all flammable materials.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, persons may use 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 3 ft. of the device.

Many FAS’s (both day-use and overnight) under no fire restrictions allow campfires in steel grates. Please be aware, however, that fires are NEVER allowed on WMA’s and at some FAS’s.

Because Brush Lake State Park in Sheridan co. has an on-site caretaker, fires will continue to be allowed in steel fire grates in the park under these Stage 1 restrictions.

Per FWP policy under Stage 1 restrictions, however, NO campfires will be allowed, even in steel grates, at any FAS in Phillips, Hill, and Blaine counties. To be specific, campfires are prohibited at the following FAS sites:

-Faber Reservoir FAS, Blaine Co.

-Bailey Reservoir FAS, Hill Co.

-Bear Paw Reservoir FAS, Hill Co.

-Fresno Tailwater FAS, Hill Co.

-Bjornberg Bridge FAS, Phillips Co.

-Cole Ponds FAS, Phillips Co.

-Alkali Creek FAS, Phillips Co.

For updates on restrictions and closures around the state, go to fwp.mt.gov and under the “news” tab, click on “drought and fire.”