Montana agencies share wildfire warning steps and burn rules

Patrick Lonergan, Gallatin County Chief of Emergency Management & Fire, explained how warning messages are meant to help people act before conditions get worse.

"So, we try really hard when an evolving incident is occurring or there is potential risk down the road to just use the phrase "there's a warning". That means you need to pay attention, you know, plan out what might happen. And then either the situation resolves itself and the warning is removed and you go back to life as normal, or one of two things happen in that recommended model, either you're told to shelter in place where it's safer to stay where you're at, or you are told to evacuate," Lonergan said.

The briefing also focused on fire restrictions and the difference between open and closed burning. Open burning means any fire released directly into the air and requires a state permit. Closed burning means fires kept inside a closed container.

Officials also said burn bans could be put in place if conditions became especially dangerous. Those restrictions could limit activities such as driving off-road, smoking and open fires because they can raise the risk of wildfires.