Author: Tom G.

Get Outside Volume XVII

Fire Season in NW Montana and the woods are pretty much closed!

As I sit in my living room and look out the sliding glass door, the air is thick with the smoke we have come to expect during fire season here in northwest Montana. 

Not only are fires burning all around us, but our air has also been inundated with smoke blowing down from wildfires in Canada. It seems as if it has been weeks since our air quality has been good and we have been living with Stage Two fire restrictions on public lands since August 4th.

These restrictions prohibit the following activities:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
2. 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 materials.
3. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.

In addition to the restrictions on public land, much of the privately held that that is usually open to the public for recreation and hunting such as the Stoltz Lumber Company land is currently closed to all access. This closure will remain in effect until stage two fire restrictions are no longer in effect.

While hiking is still an option on state and Forest Service lands, extreme caution should be exercised by all who venture out into the woods.  
As of this afternoon, (August 24, 2023), Lake County and the Flathead Indian Reservation have stepped down to level one fire restrictions. Archery season is just around the corner.  Hopefully with our recent rains and cooler weather, Flathead County is not far behind.