The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

With September just around the corner, the fire season, heat and drought lingers on. It will be with us until the winter snows and let’s just hope that no big fires get started now and that we get a good snow early on to help put out what is raging.

Actually it looks like things are a little better at the end of August. The horrible Lolo fire just south of Missoula seems to be getting more under control. Missoula residents said that last week they saw the peak of Mount Lolo for the first time in weeks. Some evacuations have been lifted in that fire.

At Seeley Lake that fire seems to be more under control too. As was reported last week, recreationalists have been allowed back on the lake just in time for the long Labor Day weekend.

In Glacier National Park the Sprague Creek complex of fires is still burning but it is a controlled burn and is expected to burn until the winter snows put it out.

No other large fires have been reported in Glacier National Park; however, there is a fire on the east front in the Heart Butte area. Fires that get going in that area are very dangerous and can get out of control quickly. The Heart Butte fire is not out of control at this time.

Some 40 acres were burned close to Great Falls and that fire was caused in a very strange manner. It seems that a hungry hawk had about a foot long bull snake in its claws when dinner became too heavy and the hawk and snake landed on a power pole which arced starting a wildfire. The charred bird with the snake still in his talons was easy to see under the power pole. That was first reported by the “Great Falls Tribune” and was told to them by the assistant fire chief of the Black Eagle Fire Department, Dave Lee.

With hunting starting up soon, hunters cannot be too careful about wildfires. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks urge hunters to check fire status and make safety a priority. Here are some suggestions by Montana FWP to make your hunt safer for you and your neighbors.

FWP urges hunters to check fire status, make safety a priority

With many parts of Montana suffering from emergency drought and wildfires, hunters and other recreationists taking to the field must be aware of local fire restrictions and take precautions.

Montana archery hunters will be hunting now with their 900 series antelope hunting licenses. Montana’s archery-only hunting season for deer, elk, antelope, black bear, wolf and mountain lion begins Sept. 2. Most upland game bird seasons open Sept. 1. The bighorn sheep archery season begins Sept. 2.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks urges hunters to check in with the regional FWP offices or online about potential closures before making final plans.

Hunters should:

• Drive only on established roads.

• Avoid roads with tall vegetation in the middle track.

• Never park over dry grass and other vegetation.

• Carry a fire extinguisher—or water-filled weed sprayer—shovel, axe, and, a cell phone for emergency calls.

• Restrict camping activities to designated camping areas.

•Build campfires only in established metal fire rings, if allowed.

• Smoke only inside buildings or vehicles.

• Check on any fire restrictions in place.

When it comes to site-specific fire restrictions, FWP follows the lead of the county where the site is located. Currently most counties in Montana are under either Stage 1 or Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Stage 1 restrictions ban campfires except where specifically exempted, allow cooking fires on propane devices that can be shut off and smoking only in vehicles and areas three feet in diameter that are cleared of flammable materials.

Stage 2 restrictions start with regulations delineated by Stage 1 restrictions. In addition, Stage 2 restrictions ban welding, explosives, driving off established roads and use of internal-combustion engines, except for vehicles on established roads, between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. each day. Generators used in enclosed buildings or in an area

cleared of vegetation specifically are exempted from Stage 2 restrictions.

The restrictions are in response to dry, warm weather that could increase the danger of human-caused wildfires. They will be in effect until further notice.

FWP sites that could be impacted fire restrictions include fishing access sites, wildlife management areas and state parks.

Private landowners along with land enrolled in Block Management or other private land access programs may also have restrictions or closures. Be sure to ask when securing permission.

For up-to-date details on fire and drought-related restrictions and closures, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click Restrictions & Closures.

Always be prepared to prevent or extinguish fire starts. Your assistance during this time will be appreciated.