At 12:01 AM on Friday, July 24th, Powder River County moves into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions until further notice. The decision to enact the restrictions was made by the county commissioners on Monday, and was made in response to the dry weather, hot temperatures, and expected extreme fire weather conditions.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

a. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, unless noted and allowed in the exemptions stated below;

b. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials; and

c. Any fireworks requiring an open flame to ignite, or that emit a spark, are prohibited until further notice.

Exemptions include:

a. Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act;

b. Persons using a fire solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels;

c. Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice;

d. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force while in the performance of an official duty;

e. All land within a city or town boundary is exempted;

f. Other exemptions which are established and unique to each agency; and,

g. Burn barrel with a spark arrester and wetting agent/fire retardant.

Violations of Stage 1 restrictions carry a potential fine of up to $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, and imprisonment up to 6 months. Additionally, violators may be held liable for suppression costs and damages from a fire.