Northwest Montana private timberlands closed due to fire danger

| July 30, 2021 5:40 PM

Due to extreme fire danger, private timberlands across Northwest Montana will be closed to public access and recreation.

The closures begin Monday on timberlands owned by Green Diamond Resource Company, Southern Pine Montana, Flathead Ridge Ranch, MKH Montana, and F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber.

The companies announced the closures in the last few days to reduce the risk of wildland fire. The restrictions include firewood cutting, non-motorized use and walk-in use. They will remain in effect until further notice when conditions improve.

The lands owned by Green Diamond Resource Company, SPP Montana, Flathead Ridge Ranch, and MKH Montana are former Weyerhaeuser lands and encompass approximately 600,000 acres across Northwest Montana.

A F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber release said it was closing land use to all public access due to continued hot and dry weather with extreme wildfire danger. For more information contact Cameron Wohlschlegel, Lands and Resource Manager, at 406-892-7005 or visit www.stoltzelumber.com.

According to a news release from Stimson, it said it would regularly evaluate the situation but anticipate the closure will last until rains reduce the hazard later in the season.

For inquiries about the Stimson closure, contact its Coeur d’Alene, Idaho office at 208-762-6559. More information on the company’s public access program can be found at https://www.stimsonlumber.com.

For the latest information on fire restrictions across Montana, visit https://www.mtfireinfo.org.