Fire Restrictions at FWP Sites In Much of Southeastern Montana

MILES CITY – With obviously dry and dangerous fire conditions in southeastern Montana, several counties in the region have enacted fire restrictions heading into the Fourth of July holiday. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks follows the counties’ lead in placing fire restrictions on its properties within those counties. Before recreating, please check for restrictions by visiting the statewide fire restrictions website at https://www.mtfireinfo.org/.

Currently, the counties of Custer, Rosebud, Richland, Dawson, Carter, Treasure, Rosebud and Bighorn are in Stage I fire restrictions or adopting them this week. Under Stage 1 restrictions, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire at FWP sites in these counties is not allowed. People also may not smoke 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 cleared of flammable materials. Recreationists may cook on a liquid petroleum gas or propane stove that can be turned on and off.

FWP sites affected by these restrictions are:

Custer-Twelve Mile Dam Fishing Access Site, Kinsey Bridge FAS, Roche Jaune FAS and Pirogue Island State Park.

Carter-South Sandstone FAS, Medicine Rocks State Park.

Dawson-Black Bridge FAS, Intake Dam FAS, Johnson Reservoir FAS, Stipek FAS, Three Mile Wildlife Management Area, War Dance Island WMA and Makoshika State Park.

Richland-Sidney Bridge FAS, Diamond Willow FAS, Gartside Reservoir FAS, Elk Island FAS and WMA and Seven Sisters WMA.

Rosebud-Far West FAS, Rosebud East FAS and Rosebud West FAS.

Treasure-Amelia Island FAS and WMA, Myers Bridge FAS and Isaac Homestead WMA.

Bighorn-Tongue River Reservoir State Park and Rosebud Battlefield State Park.

These fire restrictions at FWP sites will be in place until further notice. It has also been long-standing FWP policy to ban fireworks at its sites to ensure public safety and to protect recreation and habitat resources.

Fireworks are illegal on all FWP sites, including Fishing Access Sites, Wildlife Management Aras and other sites.

Anyone using fireworks on FWP lands may be charged with a misdemeanor that can result in a fine up to $500.