Montana State Office
| Contacts: | Mary Apple 406-896-5258 |
Fireworks Prohibited on Public Lands
If you plan to recreate on public land this Fourth of July, leave the fireworks at home. The discharge of fireworks is prohibited on all federal and state lands. For regulations on county lands, contact your local fire department, county fire warden or sheriff’s office.
The danger of wildland fire will increase as the summer heats up and the lush growth of this spring dries out. Take extra caution when working and playing outdoors to help prevent wildland fire starts. Anyone who causes a wildland fire intentionally or through negligence may be held accountable for damage and suppression costs.
General precautions include ensuring that your campfire is dead out before you leave it; smoking only in an enclosed vehicle or building and crushing it out completely; and driving and parking only in areas clear of vegetation. Always stay on roads and trails; cross-country driving is generally not allowed on state and federal lands.
In general, burn permits are required for any open burning other than campfires, but there may be additional fire restrictions in your area. Before burning such things as slash piles, ditches, or fields, please contact your local fire department or sheriff’s office for more information and to obtain any necessary permits.
For more information about preventing wildland fires, contact the Bureau of Land Management at 406-896-5013 or your local fire department.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Montana State Office 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101