County imposes stage I fire restrictions

Continued hot, dry conditions prompted Sanders County Commissioners to impose Stage I fire restrictions throughout the county early this morning.

Near Hot Springs, the Garden Creek Fire has burned an estimated 184 acres, primarily on Bureau of Indian Affairs land. According to the Sanders County Wildland Fire Information page on Facebook, the fire is located near the boundary with the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest. The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire is managing the fire and attempting to arrest fire spread with helicopter bucket drops and air tanker retardant drops. Officials reported that no structures are threatened at this time.

Two fires elsewhere in the county have been contained. The Winniemuck Fire in the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District and the Government Mountain Fire on the Cabinet Ranger District were both contained to under an acre.

With Stage I, the following is restricted:

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire unless notated in the following exemptions:

a. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

b. Persons using a devise solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.

c. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

d. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

e. Other exemptions unique to each agency/tribe.

2. Smoking, except within and 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. Prohibits the ignition of all fireworks in Sanders County outside of the incorporated cities within the County.

Violating fire restrictions in Sanders County, according to the resolution signed by the commissioners, are a misdemeanor and punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.