Fire-Fighting Aerial, Ground Crews Need Space to Work Safely

With several wildfires burning across Montana right now, numerous aerial and ground crews are working on both public and private lands. Public interest in these fires is understandable, but personnel need space to do their jobs without citizens potentially creating safety and access issues.

People are asked to be mindful about walking or driving vehicles or watercraft into areas where crews are actively fighting wildfires to ensure the safety of both citizens and fire personnel and to allow crews unfettered access to conduct fire suppression activities.

This week, an aerial crew was temporarily unable to dip a bucket into a waterbody to help suppress nearby fires because recreationists were in the dipping area.

If you are in an area with fire-fighting equipment and crews, please do not unintentionally block access and egress routes or otherwise impede their movements and activities.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to continue providing outdoor opportunities for recreationists, but caution is urged in areas near active wildfires, where conditions can change rapidly.

Many counties across Montana are currently under either Stage 1 or 2 fire restrictions, which ban campfires, smoking in the open, and other activities. People are strongly urged to keep safety in mind when in the outdoors and to follow these guidelines:

• Drive on established roads.

• Avoid roads with tall vegetation in the middle track.

• Never park over dry grass and other vegetation.

• Carry a fire extinguisher (or water-filled weed sprayer), shovel, axe, and a cell for emergency calls.

• Restrict camping activities to designated camping areas.

• Build campfires only in established metal fire rings, if allowed.

• Smoke only inside buildings or vehicles.

• Check on any fire restrictions.

For statewide updates, visit FWP’s restrictions and closures page at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions.