Commissioners issue emergency declaration for Lincoln County

With two large wildfires burning in the Troy area, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved a declaration of emergency on July 26.

The declaration gives the county the ability to raise two mills in response to a crisis. It also lets commissioners tap into monies raised during previous emergencies. Tax dollars raised during emergencies can only be used in a time of crisis under Montana law.

County Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2) said this declaration would help cover the cost of managing evacuations in the face of the South Yaak and Burnt Peak fires.

“We … declared a state of emergency just in order to get in line with the evacuation to get funding to the [Lincoln County] Sheriff’s Office so they can post guards and look after all of the 22 properties and keep an eye on that and keep it safe,” Bennett said during the commissioners’ July 28 meeting.

The vote occurred outside of the board’s usual Wednesday meeting, and Bennett said commissioners did not want to wait until the regularly scheduled gathering to make the declaration.

The declaration cites “significant wildland fire activity, threatening public safety [and] private property.” The resolution states that “local fire resources are operating at full capacity.”

Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a wildfire state of emergency for Montana on July 14 in the wake of unusually dry conditions. That declaration allows the governor to reach out to neighboring states for resources and mobilize the Montana National Guard.