It won't be a Fourth of July many Montanans are used to this year, mainly thanks to record high temperatures and dry weather conditions.

KECI's Chief Meteorologist Mark Heyka said a fire weather warning is in effect [Saturday] for the East Lolo, Flathead and Kootenai National Forests in northwest and west central Montana. In addition, wind gusts up to 30 to 40 mph will be possible with very low humidity. All of these factors, Heyka said, create an extreme fire danger.

City and county officials throughout western Montana have already banned or restricted the use fireworks through the weekend because the increased the fire danger.

NBC Montana reports additional restrictions or bans could be added to this list.

Cities

  • Bigfork's public fireworks show is canceled.
  • Bozeman only allows fireworks July 3 and 5 from noon to midnight and the Fourth of July from noon to 1 a.m.
  • Butte commissioners passed an ordinance banning the sale and use of fireworks by the public.
  • Darby's ban on fireworks is effective Friday at 12:01 a.m.
  • Hamilton’s ban on fireworks is effective Friday at 12:01 a.m.
  • Kalispell bans fireworks within city limits.
  • Lakeside's public fireworks show is canceled.
  • Missoula bans fireworks within city limits.
  • Pinesdale's ban on fireworks is effective Friday at 12:01 a.m.
  • Seeley Lake's public fireworks display is canceled due to a red flag alert and predicted winds.
  • Stevensville has banned all fireworks, effective immediately. City officials issued a news release that said a fire weather watch and impending Red Flag conditions led them to decide fireworks needed to be banned on all public and private land inside city limits.
  • Whitefish passed an emergency ordinance to ban the discharge of fireworks inside Whitefish city limits for up to 90 days. The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce’s public display over Whitefish Lake is canceled.

Counties

  • Anaconda-Deer Lodge County's ban is effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
  • Butte-Silver Bow commissioners voted Wednesday night to pass an ordinance banning the sale and use of fireworks by the public.
  • Flathead County commissioners passed an emergency ordinance enacting Stage I fire restrictions and a state of emergency. Fireworks are banned on all public and private land located within the county’s boundaries, outside of the city limits, effective immediately.
  • Gallatin County has not issued a ban.
  • Lake County will enact Stage I fire restrictions effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, along with a fireworks ban.
  • Mineral County will enact Stage I fire restrictions effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, along with a fireworks ban.
  • Missoula County will enact Stage I fire restrictions effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, along with a fireworks ban.
  • Ravalli County will enact Stage I fire restrictions effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, along with a fireworks ban.
  • Sanders County commissioners voted to enact Stage I fire restrictions in Sanders County effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. This also prohibits the ignition of fireworks on all land in Sanders County. The Sanders County Independence Festival fireworks show at the Fairgrounds in Plains will take place as scheduled, and a firetruck will be on site.
  • Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes banned all fireworks on tribal land.

Check back for more updates on fireworks restrictions.

 

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