Missoula To Consider Stage 1 Fire Restriction, What this Might Mean

Last Tuesday, Missoula County made an Emergency Proclamation due to dangerous fire conditions. 

"The emergency proclamation is in an anticipation of a very hazardous situation," Missoula Director of Emergency Management Adriane Beck said. "Though we acknowledge that the situation is this but it has not occurred yet. It really is an acknowledgement of the hazardous situation and allows for the preplanning that emergency managers and emergency responders need in order to prepare for what could be a long fire season."

Next week, officials are meeting to discuss whether or not Missoula should go one step further and declare stage 1 fire restrictions which include Building a fire or campfire, and smoking.

"What it means to the public is it begins to restrict some of the activities that are known to be hazardous or contribute to starting wild land fires so campfires, fireworks and some of those activities, " Beck said.

Beck says the fact that 4th of July is next weekend will be taken into consideration by officials as they make this decision.