New public website for wildland fire restriction information
by U.S. Forest Service
July 5, 2008
As residents and visitors enjoy summer, fire management organizations want the public to easily know what fire restrictions and closures may be in place. A new public web site, www.firerestrictions.org, has been created to communicate wildland fire restriction and closure information for the Northern Rockies during the 2008 wildland fire season. The Northern Rockies includes Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and Northwest South Dakota.
The public can access the most current information on fire restrictions and what areas may be closed. The user-friendly website is a cooperative effort between the Northern Rockies Coordination Group and the National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis at the University of Montana.
Wildland fire restrictions are implemented in two stages, stage I and stage II, in Montana, Idaho and Northwest South Dakota. The State of North Dakota refers to restrictions as very high and extreme. Weather, moisture in the vegetation, number of human-caused and natural fire starts, firefighting resource availability and other factors are considered to determine if wildland fire restrictions are needed.
Wildland fire restrictions are implemented for a specific geographical area and coordinated by federal, state and county agencies in that area. The website identifies each geographical area by map and written text to assist the public.
The website also includes information detailing the restrictions, identifies sites that may have an exemption from the restrictions, a listing of commonly asked questions and answers, and a link for media information.
The Northern Rockies Coordination Group provides an interagency approach to wildland fire management and all-risk support on all land ownerships within the States of Montana, North Dakota, northern Idaho, and a small portion of South Dakota and Wyoming. The Group is made up of representatives from the Montana Firewarden's Association, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services Division, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Idaho Department of Lands, North Dakota Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Montana Fire Chief's Association, and Montana Sheriff's and Peace Officer's Association.
The purpose of Northern Rockies Coordination Group is to further interagency cooperation, communications, coordination, and to provide interagency fire management direction and all-risk support for the Northern Rockies Geographic Area.
At this time, there are no wildland fire restrictions in effect across the Northern Rockies Area. As weather continues to become warmer and dryer, we urge individuals to be fire safe as they work and recreate outdoors.
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