Libby lifts fire restrictions in special meeting
Fire managers throughout northwest Montana lowered fire restrictions in late August. (Will Langhorne/The Western News)
Libby City Council voted to lift fire restrictions on residents of the municipality in a special meeting Aug. 30.
City Hall issued the restrictions, which banned a variety of activities that could spark a blaze, last month. With two large wildfires already burning in the Troy area, state and federal agencies joined the county in elevating restrictions on July 16. Libby officials followed suit on the advice of the local fire marshal three days later.
Stage two bans fires and campfires, placed limitations on where smokers could light up and prohibited off-roading, among other activities. Following wet weather, most area agencies dropped stage two restrictions on Aug. 25.
Because of the wording of Libby’s original resolution, city councilors had to hold a special meeting to lift its version of the prohibitions. That led City Councilor Rob Dufficy to express his frustration with the process.
“Why are we here tonight?” he asked. “Why do we have to do a resolution?”
Mayor Peggy Williams apologized for having to call the meeting. She, and City Councilor Gary Beach, indicated that future resolutions would be worded to automatically rescind when county, state and federal agencies dropped fire restrictions.
“It’s going to reflect or mention in there that if the status changes within the county, ours will automatically reflect that,” said Beach, who appeared at the meeting via teleconferencing software.
Dufficy made the motion to rescind the fire restrictions. His colleague, Hugh Taylor, offered a second. The final vote was unanimous, though City Councilors Kristin Smith and Brian Zimmerman were absent. Williams said that because three out of five city councilors were present, the panel had enough for quorum.
Normally, Libby City Council is comprised of six members with a mayor presiding over meetings. Williams’ former seat is currently vacant; she ascended last week to the position of mayor, taking over for Brent Teske, who was appointed to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.