Officials apply Stage II fire restrictions in northwest Montana

Wild fire season has arrived.

Due to the current weather and fire conditions, effective midnight Sunday, Aug. 14, Stage II fire restrictions will go into effect in northwest Montana. These restrictions will apply to all lands under the protection of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Lake County, Sanders County, Lincoln County, Flathead County, Region 1 of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), and US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Under Stage II Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited until further notice:

?Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire.

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

The following acts are prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.:

?Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or firewood gathering.

?Blasting, welding, or other activities that generate flame or flammable material.

?A patrol is required for two hours following cessation of all work as described in "a" and "b."

?Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.

These restrictions apply to any lands outside of designated city limits, regardless of ownership. The only exceptions to the areas affected by Stage II fire restrictions are Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, who will be moving to Stage I fire restrictions Thursday, Aug. 11.

The Flathead National Forest is responding to two fires in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Spotted Bear Ranger District.

The Kelly Point Fire is located about 20 miles south of Spotted Bear and a mile north of Black Bear Cabin, and the Limestone Peak Fire is located about 20 miles east of Spotted Bear. A 10-person interagency fire team will assist the forest in managing the fires.

Another fire was also discovered late Saturday evening. The Holbrook Fire is located about 9 miles south of Black Bear cabin along the South Fork of the Flathead River in the wilderness.

This fire is also suspected to be human caused and estimated at less than an acre in size. Flathead National Forest employees are taking actions to suppress this fire.

Smoke is visible in the Flathead Valley from wildland fires burning in the wilderness, and adjacent National Forests to the north, south and west.