Lincoln County adopts fire restrictions

Citing very high fire danger, Lincoln County Commissioners issued stage one fire restrictions for all private lands in the county last week.

The July 2 resolution came two days after state and federal officials announced local stage one fire restrictions. The restrictions went into effect early Saturday morning.

The county resolution generally prohibits building and tending to campfires in dry areas, smoking outdoors near flammable material and using motorized vehicles off of designated trails.

Residents may still build fires on their property if their lawn is mowed, a deep green and irrigated. Campfires are allowed at designated campsites with metal fire rings in the Kootenai National Forest and in the Libby Unit of the state Department of Natural Resources.

The stage one restriction permits the use of barbecue grills in areas with no flammable materials within three feet of the grill. Residents are required to have running water on hand if they build a campfire or start up their grill.

Smoking is permitted within enclosed vehicles or buildings, at developed campsites or when stopped in an area cleared of all flammable material for at least three feet in diameter.

Firefighters, rescue workers and federal, state or local officers are exempt from the restrictions while on duty. All land within city limits is exempted from the requirements.

During the July 2 meeting, Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2) noted that officials had universalized the terms of fire restrictions across county, state and federal lands.

“We’ve actually worked over the last four years to get everybody to use the same language and do it in steps,” he said. “I think it makes it way easier for citizens.”