Montana State Office
| Contacts: | Jack Conner 406-896-5228 |
Stillwater and Sweet Grass Counties Withdraw Fire Restrictions
Recent rainfall and an extended forecast for cooler temperatures have prompted Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties to rescind Stage 1 fire restrictions. Stillwater County has rescinded restrictions effective September 14, and Sweet Grass County will rescind restrictions effective Friday, September 17, at 12:01 a.m.
Residents of Yellowstone County wanting to burn brush or slash piles must contact the County Environmental Health Department located at the county courthouse in Billings. Residents in other counties should contact their local fire departments for burn permits.
Be prepared. Keep campfires small and make sure they are dead out before you leave. Keep a shovel and a bucket handy. Drive only on established roads and trails and park in areas clear of vegetation.
Take extra precautions when working and recreating outdoors to prevent wildland fire starts. Anyone who causes a wildland fire intentionally or through negligence will be held accountable for damage and suppression costs.
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