ABOUT BURN PERMITS
Burn Permits are FREE and may be obtained, activated, or renewed HERE or by going to https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/ . Burn permits are required when lighting a fire (either piles or broadcast burning) to consume vegetation (trees, branches, shrubs, leaves, dry grass; nothing man made). Once you have obtained a burn permit, stick it on your fridge or save it on your phone and keep that permit number forever— it is the number that you will renew annually and activate each day before you burn. You only need one permit and may add as many burn locations as necessary. Permits will not be activated if air quality or fire danger conditions are not favorable. Permits must be on site while burning, please print or have available on a digital device.
Outdoor burn season - Your permit is valid for one calendar year, January 1 through December 31, although burning is prohibited during July, August, and September due to fire season. Outdoor burning remains the top cause of wildfires and wildland fire response in the Flathead. Burning will be allowed during the winter months when ventilation is favorable. Permits are not required for recreational campfires measuring less than 48-inches in height and diameter.
Why this change? The NEW burn system was put into place because the old system had collapsed and was no longer supported. The Burn Permit and Notification Service is used by 29 counties throughout the state. Close coordination will allow air quality staff and fire managers to “turn off” burning when ventilation is poor or fire danger is elevated, such as when a Red Flag warning has been issued. A Red Flag Warning is when some combination of high temperatures, low humidities, and high winds/unstable air exist and can lead to easy ignition and fast moving fires. Another update includes the ability for Flathead residents to now burn during the winter months (December, January, February) when ventilation is favorable.
Burning is prohibited within city limits of Kalispell, Columbia Falls, and Whitefish. (See Kalispell City Ordinance 1197 ). Anyone who would like to burn within the city limits of Whitefish must check the current permitting requirements for the City of Whitefish https://www.cityofwhitefish.org/493/Open-Burning .
Local assistance with burn permits is available at multiple locations around the Flathead Valley:
- Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) at 655 Timberwolf Parkway, Kalispell | Ph: 406-751-2240
- DNRC Stillwater Unit at 7425 US 93 N, Olney | Ph: 406-881-2371
- Flathead City-County Health Department at 4011th Street West, Suite 210 | Ph: 406-751-8130
- Bigfork Fire Department at 10 Grand Drive, Bigfork | Ph: 406-837-4590
Remember, you are responsible for any and all fire suppression costs if your fire escapes your control!
Montana State Statute 50-63-103. Liability for offender for damages and costs. Except as provided in 50-63-104, a person who sets or leaves a fire that spreads and damages or destroys property of any kind not belonging to the person is liable for all damages caused by the fire, and an owner of property damaged or destroyed by the fire may maintain a civil suit for the purpose of recovering damages. A person who sets or leaves a fire that threatens to spread and damage or destroy property is liable for all costs and expenses incurred, including but not limited to expenses incurred in investigation of the fire and administration of fire suppression, by the state of Montana, by any forestry association, or by any person extinguishing or preventing the spread of the fire.