Burn bans in Montana
In Montana, counties and land-management agencies declare fire restrictions in stages. The Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) aggregates them and publishes a restriction level for every county: No Restrictions, Stage 1, or Stage 2.
1 Fire Weather Watch active. A Warning means critical fire weather is occurring or imminent; a Watch means it is possible. Neither is a burn ban.
All counties in Montana
| county | Status | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead | Unconfirmed | — |
| Big Horn | Unconfirmed | — |
| Blaine | Unconfirmed | — |
| Broadwater | Unconfirmed | — |
| Carbon | Unconfirmed | — |
| Carter | Unconfirmed | — |
| Cascade | Unconfirmed | — |
| Chouteau | Unconfirmed | — |
| Custer | Unconfirmed | — |
| Daniels | Unconfirmed | — |
| Dawson | Unconfirmed | — |
| Deer Lodge | Unconfirmed | — |
| Fallon | Unconfirmed | — |
| Fergus | Unconfirmed | — |
| Flathead | Unconfirmed | — |
| Gallatin | Unconfirmed | — |
| Garfield | Unconfirmed | — |
| Glacier | Unconfirmed | — |
| Golden Valley | Unconfirmed | — |
| Granite | Unconfirmed | — |
| Hill | Unconfirmed | — |
| Jefferson | Unconfirmed | — |
| Judith Basin | Unconfirmed | — |
| Lake | Unconfirmed | — |
| Lewis and Clark | Unconfirmed | — |
| Liberty | Unconfirmed | — |
| Lincoln | Unconfirmed | — |
| Madison | Unconfirmed | — |
| McCone | Unconfirmed | — |
| Meagher | Unconfirmed | — |
| Mineral | Unconfirmed | — |
| Missoula | Unconfirmed | — |
| Musselshell | Unconfirmed | — |
| Park | Unconfirmed | — |
| Petroleum | Unconfirmed | — |
| Phillips | Unconfirmed | — |
| Pondera | Unconfirmed | — |
| Powder River | Unconfirmed | — |
| Powell | Unconfirmed | — |
| Prairie | Unconfirmed | — |
| Ravalli | Unconfirmed | — |
| Richland | Unconfirmed | — |
| Roosevelt | Unconfirmed | — |
| Rosebud | Unconfirmed | — |
| Sanders | Unconfirmed | — |
| Sheridan | Unconfirmed | — |
| Silver Bow | Unconfirmed | — |
| Stillwater | Unconfirmed | — |
| Sweet Grass | Unconfirmed | — |
| Teton | Unconfirmed | — |
| Toole | Unconfirmed | — |
| Treasure | Unconfirmed | — |
| Valley | Unconfirmed | — |
| Wheatland | Unconfirmed | — |
| Wibaux | Unconfirmed | — |
| Yellowstone | Unconfirmed | — |
How Montana decides
- Montana has 56 counties. DNRC publishes a restriction level for each one.
- Stage 1 restricts campfires to designated sites and limits smoking to enclosed vehicles or cleared areas. Stage 2 adds limits on motorized and mechanised equipment on top of Stage 1.
- DNRC states that its restriction map is for informational purposes and is not suitable for legal purposes — confirm with the agency that manages the land you plan to burn on.
- Restrictions can differ between adjoining counties and between land owners inside one county.
Penalties in Montana
Fire restrictions are enforced by the agency with jurisdiction over the land you are on. Beyond any fine, anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for the cost of putting it out and for damage to property.
Classification: — · Maximum fine: —
Common questions about Montana burn bans
Is there a burn ban in Montana right now?
We could not verify status from Montana DNRC — Fire Restriction Levels today. Every county is shown as Unconfirmed until the source responds again — we do not carry yesterday's status forward.
How does Montana issue a burn ban?
In Montana, counties and land-management agencies declare fire restrictions in stages. The Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) aggregates them and publishes a restriction level for every county: No Restrictions, Stage 1, or Stage 2.
How long does a burn ban last in Montana?
Bans are issued by county officials and typically stay in effect until conditions improve or the order expires. Some counties set explicit expiration dates; others leave a ban open-ended until lifted. Check each county's page for the expiration listed on the current order.
What are the penalties for violating a burn ban in Montana?
Fire restrictions are enforced by the agency with jurisdiction over the land you are on. Beyond any fine, anyone who starts a wildfire can be held liable for the cost of putting it out and for damage to property.
burnbanradar reports the counties-level orders as published by Montana DNRC — Fire Restriction Levels. Municipal ordinances may impose stricter rules. When Montana DNRC — Fire Restriction Levels does not list a county, that does not mean no ban exists — verify with the county office. The published order governs.