Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Begin This Weekend in Fergus County

Mother Nature continues to bring hot weather to Big Sky Country as August begins to wrap up and we prepare for fall.  Those conditions are creating some of the worst weather for fires in 2026.

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Enough so that counties across the state are beginning to issue or in some cases reissue Stage 1 fire restrictions.  Great Falls has been spared from any major fires, but our neighbors to the east in Fergus County haven't been as lucky.

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Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Begin This Weekend in Fergus County

Through the Department of Emergency Services with Fergus County, the Lewistown agency will implement Stage 1 fire restrictions for the entire county beginning on August 29, 2026.  The County Board of Commissioners said that due to "prolonged high temperatures, lack of moisture, and HIGH wildland fire danger" the restrictions were needed.

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Those restrictions include the following from the Fergus DES:

• activities that might potentially cause a fire must cease immediately. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire is prohibited, unless specifically exempted. Smoking outdoors is prohibited. Exceptions for smoking include being within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or a barren area at least three feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials

Exemptions to the New Fire Restrictions - Know What is Allowed in Fergus County

Despite the stage 1 restrictions, the Fergus County DES said that there were exemptions:

• All land within a city boundary is exempted from these restrictions.
• Devices solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG that can be turned on and off are allowed. These LPG devices must be used in a barren area cleared of overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet.
• Campfires within established fire rings at Kipp Recreation Area and Crystal Lake Campground are permitted.

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Persons with written permits that specifically authorizes the prohibited act are exempt, however, those individuals are reminded that should a fire start "an exemption does not absolve you from liability for any fire started by the exempted activity".