RESOLUTION NO. 3271

OPEN BURNING AND STAGE II·RESTRICTIONS WITHIN RAVALLI COUNTY

WHEREAS, the Board of Cmmty Commissioners of Ravalli County, Montana, passed Resolutions 3264 on June 24, 2015 and 3265 on June 30, 2015, which restricted certain activities and open burning in the County; and

WHEREAS, with multiple fires active in the region and the lack of resources to bring these under control, the threat of new fire starts that are resistant to control has created a substantial
hazard to the citizens of the County; and

WHEREAS, many member agencies and jurisdictions of the Missoula area restrictions and closures group have implemented a Stage IIfire restriction; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioners wish to place further exemptions on certain activities within county lands;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, at the request of the Ravalli County Firewarden, -
pursuant to sections 7-33-2205, 7-33-2206 and 7-33-2212 MCA, the Board of Commissioners
designate Ravalli Cotmty a high fire hazard area and does hereby establish a local fire season,
effective Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 12:01 am, and will continue until weather conditions
warrant its removal; and pursuant to further authority in the statute, any person who ignites or
sets forest fire, slash burn fire, land clearing fire, debris burning fire or open fire within the
County is subject to a fine up to $500.00 and or up to six months in the Cmmty detention facility,
except in those areas tmder the jurisdiction of the United States Forest Service and lands under
the jurisdiction of tl1e State of Montana where their rules and regulations shall govern;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the following acts are prohibited at any time until further
notice:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all :flammable material
3. The use or fireworks
4. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails on public lands

The following acts are prohibited from 1:00pm to 1:00am:
1. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, road building or firewood gathering on classified forested lands
2. Outdoor welding, or operating acetylene or other type torch with open :flame
3. Using any explosive
4. A one-hour patrol in the work area is required following the cessation of all activities as
identified in #1 - #3 above.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the aforementioned restrictions are subject to the following
exemptions, which do not relieve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for
any fire started by the exempted activity:
1. Persons with written authorization from the Ravalli Cmmty Connnissioners that specifically
authorizes the otherwise prohibited act
2. Within the confines of residential use, persons using a cooking device fueled by liquid
petrolemn fuels that can be tumed on and off, or a commercial barbeque that utilizes charcoal
briquettes
3. Operating generators with an approved spark anesting device within an enclosed vehicle or
building or in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and smrounding flannnable
materials within three feet of the generator
4. Operating motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails on public lands
5. Emergency repair of public utilities
6. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically
authorized by written posted notice
7. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in
the performance of an official duty
8. All land within a city boundary is exempted
9. Agricultural activity (other than open bmning) umelated to forest harvest if fire extinguisher
or fire suppression equipment is immediately available
10. Residential and commercial lawn care
11. Construction site activities if: Site prep work has been completed (i.e., foundations excavated, site cleared of vegetation, etc.) and a fire extinguisher or fire suppression equipment is inunediately available.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution becomes effective Saturday, August 29,
2015 at 12:01 am, and shall remain in effect until such time as it may be amended or rescinded
by Board of County Commissioners action.

PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2015. BOARD OF RAVALLI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Burrows, Commissioner Chilcott and Commissioner Iman