ROOSEVELT COUNTY, Mont. — Roosevelt County fire departments warned that a very dry spring raised fire risk and made burn safety especially important across the county, according to a public notice from the Roosevelt County Local Emergency Planning Committee.
The notice said the county burn permit system helped alert the public, fire departments, law enforcement and dispatch about planned burning in Roosevelt County. Officials said decisions to open or close that system depended on weather, fuel conditions and whether fire departments were available.
Roosevelt County fire departments said local crews were volunteer-based, which meant firefighters left their jobs and families when they responded to fires. The notice said burning without a permit used county time and resources on incidents that could be prevented.
People who burned without a permit could also be held personally responsible for suppression costs and damages, according to the notice.
For burns on Fort Peck Tribal lands, the notice said people needed to contact the BIA Office for a burn permit.
"Thank you for doing your part to help keep Roosevelt County safe," Roosevelt County Fire Departments said.
The county burn permit system is available here.