Flathead County moves to stage 2 fire restrictions

Flathead and Sanders counties will move to stage 2 fire restrictions beginning Saturday, Aug. 5.

Lake County and the Flathead Reservation implemented stage 2 rules on Tuesday.

The restrictions will affect Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks jurisdictions within the counties, as well as the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park.

Stage 2 rules prohibit campfires and smoking except within a vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area clear of flammable material. Taking vehicles off-road is also prohibited.

Operating an internal combustion engine, welding or using explosives is prohibited between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Wildfire managers said the restrictions are intended to minimize human ignition sources to better allow firefighters to focus on naturally caused fires. So far this summer, 82% of Missoula-area wildfires have been human-caused.

For more information on fire restrictions, visit www.MTFireInfo.org.