Stage-Two fire restrictions enacted across county

Fire restrictions outlawing all campfires, operation of vehicles off of designated roads and trails, and the discharge of firearms in most cases went into effect across Jefferson County on Saturday, July 31, and the restrictions were already in effect on some lands in the county before Saturday.

Jefferson County Commissioners Cory Kirsch and Leonard Wortman voted on July 29 to enact stage-two fire restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m., just after midnight, on Saturday with no expiration date. Stage-two restrictions went into effect on Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks lands at the same time, according to the agency.

County Fire Warden and Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Doug Dodge said that the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest enacted stage-two restrictions beginning Saturday, as well.