Beaverhead County Enacts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Amid Extreme Fire Danger

DILLON, Mont. — Beaverhead County has officially entered Stage 1 Fire Restrictions as extreme drought, high winds and hot, dry conditions continue to increase the risk of wildfires across the county.

The Beaverhead County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2026-28 on Monday, August 10, imposing Stage 1 restrictions on private lands within the county that are not under the jurisdiction of municipalities or state or federal agencies.

According to the resolution, extreme drought conditions, high winds, record-high temperatures, low relative humidity, low water supplies and a lack of precipitation are all contributing to increased fire danger.

The commissioners have declared applicable private lands within Beaverhead County a high fire hazard area.

What Is Prohibited Under Stage 1 Restrictions?

The following activities are prohibited until further notice:

Campfires and Open Fires: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire is prohibited except within a developed recreation site or improved site.

Smoking: Smoking is prohibited except inside an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Engines Without Spark Arresters: Operating or using an internal or external combustion engine without a properly installed, maintained and functioning spark-arresting device is prohibited. The device must meet applicable U.S. Forest Service or Society of Automotive Engineers standards.

The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

The resolution applies specifically to private lands under Beaverhead County's jurisdiction. Residents and visitors should be aware that lands managed by municipalities and state or federal agencies may be subject to separate restrictions established by those agencies.

The Stage 1 restrictions come as firefighters continue battling significant wildfire activity in the region and extremely dry conditions persist across Southwest Montana.

Residents and visitors are urged to use extreme caution with anything that could produce a spark or flame and to familiarize themselves with current restrictions before heading outdoors.

Southwestern Montana News will continue to provide updates on fire restrictions, evacuations and wildfire activity throughout Beaverhead County as information becomes available.