BOZEMAN, Mont. – Officials with the Custer Gallatin National Forest announced on Friday that Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been implemented on all national forest lands within the Sioux Ranger District, which extends between Carter County in Montana and Harding County in South Dakota.
Officials cited ongoing drought conditions, with dried-out vegetation and grasses creating hazardous fuels for any fire incidents, as a primary factor in their decision to issue fire restrictions.
Effective immediately, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions prohibit the following acts:
- Building, maintaining, or using a fire, including charcoal and briquettes outside of a metal fire ring that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area.
- 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 material.
““Recent large fire activity on the Sioux Ranger District along with continued hot and dry weather indicate it’s time to take additional precautions,” Ranger Kurt Hansen stated. “Moving into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will help reduce the chance of human-caused wildfires during a period of elevated risk. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in keeping the Sioux Ranger District safe—these steps protect our communities, our firefighters, and the forest we all enjoy.”
More information on fire restrictions can be found on the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s fire information website.