Missoula County Implements Stage II Fire Restrictions
Posted on August 06, 2026
With hot and dry conditions expected to continue, the Missoula County commissioners voted Thursday afternoon to implement Stage II fire restrictions, which will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7.
The restrictions, which apply until lifted to all private land in Missoula County outside the Missoula city limits, prohibit:
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Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire
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Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of flammable materials
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Operating lawn mowers, weed trimmers, chainsaws and other internal combustion engines from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
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Welding or operating acetylene or other torch devices with an open flame between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m.
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Using an explosive, which includes fireworks, between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m.
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Operating motor vehicles off designated roads and trails, with exceptions for those carrying out official business related to the function of governmental agencies and public utilities
Certain exemptions to these restrictions apply and are outlined in the resolution, which is available online. Violators can be fined up to $5,000 and held financially responsible for the cost of fire suppression and damages. Other agencies and land managers, including the City of Missoula, Ravalli County, and the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests, have enacted similar restrictions.
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) reminds residents to sign up for emergency notifications to ensure they receive timely information about potential evacuation warnings and orders. Residents must opt in to receive alerts on their cellphones by signing up at smart911.com or by downloading the smartphone app. More information on the evacuation process is available online.
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