Prevention

Fire Prevention throughout the year

Open Burning: March 1 to November. Ravalli County determines when open burning status closes. 

Burn Debris Safely

• A burn permit is required when burning debris in Ravalli County. Ravalli County is the only county in the state of Montana that covers the price of a burn permit for its residents. Be sure to reactivate your prior burn permits when applicable. The county gets charged every time someone creates a new permit. Burn permits can be obtained by applying at https://ravalli.us/501/Burning-Permits
• Be sure to review the current and expected weather to ensure that you will be able to burn safely. Some weather events to avoid burning in include high winds, severe drought, and hot temps.
• Make sure to have your fire control tools handy. You may need to cease burning suddenly so having some tools readily available to you is important. Some common tools you may want to have are a hose with available water, a shovel, a rake, a chainsaw.
• Conditions change rapidly in Ravalli County so always make sure or the county burn status before igniting your burn.
• Remember you should never leave an active burn unattended. It is helpful to plan to have friends and neighbors help you with your burn. In some situations, your local volunteer fire department is willing to help you with your burn

Camp fire safety

• Nationally, around 90% of wildfires are caused by humans. It is important to know your campfire safety before starting a campfire.
• Campfire location: whenever possible, build your campfire in an existing fire ring. If an existing ring is not available, make sure to choose a location that is free of vegetation. All vegetation is flammable and will burn given enough time near a fire. Heat rises so it is important to make sure there are no overhead brush and limbs present. Always make sure that campfires are allowed in the area that you are in before igniting one. The allowance of fires changes several times a year in many locations. Please visit mtfireinfo.org for information on current Montana fire restrictions in your area.
• Weather: when it's too hot or windy it isn’t a good idea to have a campfire. Embers travel long distances and can easily ignite vegetation without you knowing it.
• Control the fire: a bucket with water and a shovel are the basic tools needed to extinguish a campfire.
• Things you should and shouldn’t burn. When starting your campfire, it is important to use only natural sources of fuel to burn in your fire. Dry wood will burn the best. Please make sure to refrain from burning plastic, synthetic material, garbage or anything that could make your fire spread rapidly.
• Extinguishing your campfire: when putting your campfire out stick to the drown, stir, and feel method. Drown your campfire with your bucket of water, stir with your shovel and feel the area for any remaining heat. This process may take several tries to complete. Remember Smokey Bear always says “If its too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave!”
• Please check Fire Restrictions to see when campfires are allowable during the year due to changing Fire Danger Levels.

Protecting your home and surroundings

The partnership with Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (state) and the Forest Service offer programs to help communities become more fire adapted. In Ravalli County you can request a free home wildfire risk assessment from the DNRC to help prepare your home and property for wildfires, including assessing your home ignition zone (which includes the home and its immediate surroundings out to 200 feet).

To Request a Home Wildfire Risk Assessment: For Ravalli County members www.fireintheroot.org and outside of Ravalli County Mtfireinfo.org Please do your part to prevent wildfires by following these safety tips:

• Make sure your campfire is completely out. If your fire is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. Take a shovel and plenty of water to put out your fire. Pour water on your fire and stir. Repeat until the fire is cool to the touch. Use a gas stove if windy conditions are predicted.
• Don’t stop or park your vehicle in tall grass or over small shrubs, where a spark or hot engine parts can start a fire.
• Make sure vehicles and tires are in good working condition, and safety chains and other trailer equipment are not dragging. Chains dragging on the road creates sparks and can cause fires.
• Always carry a fire extinguisher in your vehicle, as well as plenty of water and a shovel to put out fires.
• Make sure all motorized equipment, including chainsaws, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles have approved spark arrestors to prevent a spark.
• Always discard cigarette butts in ashtrays inside a vehicle or a building. Cigarettes can start fires long after they have been dropped or thrown away.
• Avoid shooting on hot, windy days, and be sure your target area is free of dry grass and shrubs. Shooting at steel targets or rocks may throw sparks into dry grass and nearby brush. Use paper or clay targets to reduce the risk of sparks. When shooting, always carry a fire extinguisher, extra water and a shovel in case a fire does start.
• The use of fireworks, explosives and exploding targets is always prohibited on public lands, as sparks from these items can start a wildfire.
• Know before you go. Check weather conditions and plan accordingly. Check here for information regarding Fire Restrictions. Do your part in preventing wildfires, learn more at Fire in the Root.