What Fire Restrictions Mean To You
Common activities and how they are affected by Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions are shown below. See the full definition of Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions below this chart.
| |
Stage I |
Stage II |
Closure |
| Campfire or Other Fire * |
No Fires - unless site is posted with specific exemptions |
No Fires |
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators |
| Smoking * |
No, unless within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or area 3 feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials |
No, unless within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or area 3 feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials |
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators |
| Operating any internal combustion engine ** |
N/A |
Prohibited from 1 P.M. to 1 A.M. Daily |
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators |
| Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame ** |
N/A |
Prohibited from 1 P.M. to 1 A.M. Daily |
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators |
| Using an explosive ** |
N/A |
Prohibited from 1 P.M. to 1 A.M. Daily |
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators |
| Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails ** |
N/A |
Prohibited from 1 P.M. to 1 A.M. Daily |
To be defined if needed by wildland fire agency administrators |
* land within city boundaries is exempt
** a patrol is required for two hours following cessation of all activities as identified above |
Violations:
- You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment up to 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.
- You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.
STAGE I
The following acts are prohibited until further notice:
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptions below.
2. 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.
Exemptions:
- Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
- Persons using 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 feet of the device.
- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- All land within a city boundary is exempted.
- Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
Violations:
- You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment up to 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.
- You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.
STAGE II
The following acts are prohibited until further notice:
1. Building maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire.
2. 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.
3. The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.:
- Operating any internal combustion engine.
- Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
- Using an explosive.
A one hour foot patrol in the work area is required following cessation of all activities as identified in #3 above.
4. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
Exemptions:
- Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
- Persons using a device fueled solely 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 feet of the device.
- Operating generators with an approved spark arresting device within an enclosed vehicle or building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the generator.
- Operating motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails.
- Emergency repair of public utilities and railroads as per attached conditions.
- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- All land within a city boundary is exempted.
- Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.
Violations:
- You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment up to 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.
- You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.
Closure Guidelines
The Geographic Agency Administrators within the Northern Rockies Geographic Area should review these evaluation guidelines and determine threshold levels that substantiate the need for closures.
Examples include:
- Potential loss of life due to explosive fire conditions.
- Potential for extreme or blowup fire behavior.
- Stage II restrictions are not effective in reducing the number of human-caused fires.
- Resources across the geographic area are at a critical shortage level.
The following standard exemptions will be allowed during closure and will be noted on all closure documents.
Exemptions:
- Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
- Emergency repair of public utilities and railroads as per attached conditions.
- Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- All land within a city boundary is exempted.
- Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.