Billings Field Office
| Contacts: | Ann Boucher | |||
| (406) 896-5255 |
Critical Fire Weather this Week
The National Weather Service is warning of critical fire weather today through Wednesday with high temperatures, low humidity and dry thunderstorms. Lightning-caused fires are enough to tax our firefighting resources; take care not to add human-caused fires to the mix.
Stage 2 fire restrictions are still in effect on private, state and federal lands in Big Horn, Carbon, Musselshell, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure and Yellowstone counties.
Also due to fire danger, Shepherd Ah Nei and South Hills recreation areas near Billings are closed to motorized use. These closures are for public safety and will be reopened as soon as possible. Call 406-896-5014 for an automated message with the latest information.
Under Stage 2, all campfires are prohibited. Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. Stage 2 also prohibits the operation of any internal combustion engine, welding or operating a torch with open flame, and using explosives from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. A two-hour patrol following cessation of work is required. Additionally, motorized vehicles must stay on designated roads.
Exemptions
Exemptions include fires fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG, or other activities for which there is a permit or written authorization. Carbon, Yellowstone and Stillwater counties have also exempted activities associated with harvesting and other agricultural operations. However, it is critical to keep equipment in good working order, provide spark arrestors, carry firefighting tools, and, if possible, have water available.
An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for any fire started by the exempted activity. Anyone who causes a wildland fire intentionally or through negligence will be held accountable for damage and suppression costs.
Report Fires
To report wildfires, call 911, your local fire department, or the Billings Interagency Dispatch Center at (406) 896-2900.
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.
Billings Field Office 5001 Southgate Dr. Billings, MT 59101