Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 33. FIRE PROTECTION

Part 22. Rural Fire Protection

Establishment Of Fire Season -- Permit Requirements -- Reimbursement Of Costs

7-33-2205. Establishment of fire season -- permit requirements -- reimbursement of costs. (1) (a) Subject to the provisions of Title 76, chapter 13, part 1, the county governing body may in its discretion establish controlled burning seasons annually, during which, subject to 76-13-121, a person may not ignite or set a fire, including a slash-burning fire, land-clearing fire, debris-burning fire, or open fire within the county protection area on any residential or commercial property, forest, range, or croplands subject to the provisions of this part without having obtained an official written permit or permission to ignite or set a fire from the recognized protection agency for that protection area.

(b) If a person, entity, or representative of a person or entity has entered into a fire hazard reduction agreement pursuant to Title 76, chapter 13, part 4, and is complying with that agreement, open burning may be conducted, subject to 76-13-121, between October 1 and April 30 without obtaining a written permit or permission to set a fire. The person, entity, or representative of a person or entity shall:

(i) obtain air quality and ventilation forecasts before igniting or setting the fire; and

(ii) notify the county of the location of the burn area.

(2) A permit or permission is not needed for recreational fires measuring less than 48 inches in diameter that are surrounded by a nonflammable structure and for which a suitable source of extinguishing the fire is available.

(3) A person who purposely ignites a fire in violation of this section shall reimburse the county governing body or recognized protection agency for costs incurred for any fire suppression activities resulting from the illegal fire, as provided in 50-63-103.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 173, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 40, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 337, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 73, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 397, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 28-603(1); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 273, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 492, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 499, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 305, L. 2011.