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Fire restrictions continue into hunting season

Posted at 10:56 AM, Sep 15, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-15 12:56:05-04

As many hunters head out this fall, fire restrictions remain in place for several areas.

Private land in Both Madison in Beaverhead County is currently under Stage I Fire Restrictions, while our national forests and all others in Southwest Montana remain fire restriction free. However, with area forests still near or at high fire danger, it’s very important for hunters to take care of their camps while in the woods.

“I know a lot of folks this time of year think that with the weather getting cooler and a better chance of rain and snow that they don’t have to worry about the fires so much. But it takes a fair amount of rain; a lot of times rain on a fire won’t put it out,” Assistant Fire Management Officer Steve Smith said. “So just putting a little water on it doesn’t work either. They really need to stir it around and put their hands down in it and make sure it’s still cold to the touch before they walk away from it.”

Regardless of the time of year, fires need to be touchable before leaving the campground.