Whitefish implements Stage II fire restrictions

The city of Whitefish has entered Stage II fire restrictions.

Whitefish City Council Monday night passed an ordinance approving the restrictions at the request of Fire Chief Joe Page.

Page said heat and dry fuels have created a condition ideal for quick-catching and fast spreading wildfires.

“We’re the only pocket left in northwest Montana that hasn’t gone to Stage II,” Page said. “We’re dry out there and I’m really worried.”

Under the restrictions, all open burning, including campfires, are banned and smoking is not allowed unless within an enclosed vehicle, building or developed recreation site.

The fire danger in western Montana is extreme. Northwest Montana continues to experience critical fire conditions including extremely dry forest fuels; continued forecasting of temperatures above normal accompanied by low humidity, wind and minimal precipitation, according to Flathead Area Interagency Fire managers.

Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, state land and Flathead County all remain at Stage II restrictions.

Under Stage II restrictions, equipment operation involving internal combustion engines is prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fireworks are prohibited.

Devices fueled by liquid petroleum are allowed, but should be used in an area cleared of flammable material within three feet of the device. Generators with an approved spark arresting device can also be used when flammable material has been removed within three feet. Barbecue grills can also be used again provided if the area has been cleared and a water hose is nearby.

Firefighting resources were dispatched to nine wildland fires, 21 illegal burn incidents and 16 of prohibited use of fireworks cases since Aug. 1.

In July there were 241 fire incidents with the vast majority of incidents human-caused in the Flathead County Fire Service Area.

Smoke from wildfires has been impacting the Flathead Valley air quality, which was listed on Tuesday as moderate, which means that unusaly sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. The smoke is most likely coming from fires burning in western British Columbia, with possible smoke from the south from the Rice Ridge, Liberty and Sunrise fires, according to the fire officials.

The forecast this week is calling for highs in the mid-80s to low-90s with only a slight chance of shows and thunderstorms this week, according to the National Weather Service in Missoula.

F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. also implemented several restrictions on its land beginning Monday. Those include, no camping, no campfires, no use of internal combustion engines, no use of motorized vehicles on or off road, unless its an open public road, and no smoking or fireworks.

Campfires are also banned on Weyerhaeuser property lands in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula, Sanders and Ravalli counties due to the high fire danger.

For more information on fire restrictions, visit https://firerestrictions.us/mt/.