Fire Warden Talks Fireworks Safety
Tribes Ban Sales, Use Of Fireworks
As the 4th of July approaches this Sunday, it is an important time to use common sense. Roosevelt County is currently under a burn ban, which means that burn permits will not be issued. This includes the use of burn barrels. Small backyard fires (in a fire ring) and barbecues are okay.
Roosevelt County Fire Warden Mike Olson told the Northern Plains Independent, “On the subject of fireworks, I have been informed that the county does not have the legal authority to ban fireworks which places the decision on the local town councils. Fort Peck Reservation has banned fireworks for this year.”
According to Olson, Roosevelt County is part of the governor’s drought declaration. The county has fluctuated in fire danger recently from moderate to high. To help alleviate fire dangers around your home, mow/water your yard, clean up any debris around the outside of the house, check rain gutters for leaves and needles. If you chose to light fireworks this year, have a hose, bucket of water and shovel readily available.
Said Olson, “Please check with National Weather Service for any fire weather/Red Flag warnings each day.”
Below is the Montana State Statute regarding your responsibility with fire.
“Any person who starts a fire is liable for the damages, as amended by SB 188 (2015): 50-63-104. Liability for forest or range fires. (1) In a civil action against any person or legal entity that is not a state government entity or a political subdivision of state government, for a forest or range fire caused by a negligent or unintentional act or omission that is not willful or wanton, the real and personal property damage is limited to: (a) the reasonable costs for controlling or extinguishing the forest or range fire; (b) economic damages; and (c) either: (i) the diminution of fair market value of the real and personal property resulting from the fire; or (ii) the actual and tangible restoration costs associated with restoring the damaged real and personal property to its undamaged state to the extent that those actual and tangible costs are reasonable and practical. The costs of restoring the unimproved property may not be greater than the fair market value of the property immediately before the fire. (2) As used in this section: (a) “economic damages” means objectively verifiable monetary loss, including but not limited to out-of-pocket expenses, loss of earnings, loss of use of prop-
Due to the very dry conditions, the Fort Peck Tribes Executive Board recently issued a ban on the sale and use of all fireworks. Therefore, there will be no community fireworks this year. We all hope conditions improve so we can all enjoy a display next year. Thank you. ~ The Fourth of July Display Crew erty, and loss of business or employment opportunities; (b) “fair market value” means the amount a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction when both parties are fully informed about all of the advantages and disadvantages of the property and neither is acting under any compulsion to buy or sell, as determined by a certified appraiser who is qualified to appraise the property; (c) “forest or range fire” means a fire that burns any unimproved real property located outside of an incorporated municipality, regardless of whether there are improvements also affected by the fire and regardless of whether the fire also burns property within an incorporated municipality.”
The Fort Peck Tribes’ fireworks ban is affecting local community fireworks displays, as well as individual fireworks use.
“Due to the very dry conditions, the Fort Peck Tribes Executive Board recently issued a ban on the sale and use of all fireworks,” said George Blount, organizer of the annual fireworks display in Wolf Point. “Therefore, there will be no community fireworks this year. We all hope conditions improve so we can all enjoy a display next year.”
