Stage One Fire Restrictions In Effect at Midnight Tuesday in Ravalli County
As of 12:01 on Tuesday, August 9, Stage One fire restrictions will be in place in Ravalli County.
Undersheriff Steve Holton said the Ravalli County Commissioners enacted resolution 3416 on Monday, to take effect at midnight, and described the restrictions that will be in place until further notice.
"First of all," Holton said. "Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire unless you have authorization from the Ravalli County Commissioners that specifically authorizes the campfire. Second, you can have a stove or barbeque that's fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG. Next, you can have a fully attended residential campfire or charcoal briquette barbeque, not to exceed 48", for the purposes of food cooking as long as a continuous water source is present."
Holton also said smoking is restricted as well.
"Smoking is OK, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while you're in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials," he continued. "And, of course, the use and ignition of fireworks and pyrotechnics is prohibited, as well."
Holton said the weekend brought a great deal of joy to many residents who were all allowed to return to their homes.
"Everybody is home now," he said. "We still have a little bit of a Stage One area from North Gold Creek south, out to Lost Horse and then west to the highway is that alert and warning area, but everybody is in their homes right now."