RESOLUTION NO. 4515

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 2023 RAVALLI COUNTY BURN SEASON

AND RELATED BURN PERMIT PROGRAM

WHEREAS, Section 7-33-2205 MCA, provides that the County governing body may, at its discretion, establish controlled burning season annually, during which, subject to Section 76-13-121 MCA, a person may not ignite or set a fire, including a slash-burning fire, land-clearing fire, debris-burning fire, or open fire within the county protection area on any residential or commercial property, forest, range, or croplands without having obtained an official written permit or permission to ignite or set a fire from the recognized protection agency for that protection area; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Ravalli County Commissioners held a duly noticed public meeting in order to take public comment and establish a Ravalli County Burn Season.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the RAVALLI COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS does hereby establish a local fire season, authorized under Section 7-33-2205 MCA, beginning March 1, 2023 through November 30, 2023.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that during the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, a person must obtain a permit on-line at https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/ or in person at the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, and activate said permit on-line at https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/ or by calling 1-866-212-6318 prior to igniting any fire referred to above; and that during the period from December 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 a person must obtain documentation from the State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality authorizing burning during that period and present that documentation to the recognized fire protection jurisdiction in Ravalli County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a person violating the terms of this Resolution shall be subject to a fine of up to and including $500, pursuant to 7-33-2206 MCA, and shall be subject to reimbursing the costs incurred for any fire suppression activities resulting from the illegal fire, pursuant to 7-33-2205 MCA.

PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 15th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023.

BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS