Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Fireworks banned in Lake County, Flathead Reservation

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Commissioners issued an emergency declaration and notice that discharge of all fireworks, outside of previously approved permits issued by the appropriate authorities, are banned immediately in Lake County due to severe drought conditions.

The ban specifically includes any incendiary device, explosive charge or firecrackers; commercial or homemade fireworks; and any open flame source.

The Polson fireworks show, organized by the Polson Chamber of Commerce and permitted previously through the City of Polson, will still take place at about 10:30 p.m. July 4 over Flathead River south of the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge. 
This is the first fireworks ban in Lake County’s history, according to commissioner Gale Decker.

The sale of fireworks will not be banned.

“There was some discussion of that, but the properties are tribal, some private,” Decker said. “We discussed it with tribal council, nobody felt a need to go that far.”

Before issuing the emergency ban, the commissioners met with law enforcement to discuss enforcement.

“They can write tickets … for endangerment. Whenever they go on a call, they’ll try to inform people how dangerous it is,” Decker said.

The state mandates that the counties recover suppression costs from people who are serviced by the fire departments, and when people realize how expensive that is, they are more careful, according to Decker.

“If four fire trucks show up in your yard at $250 hour per truck, you get a bill for that,” he said.

For now, commissioners are crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

“If we get through the weekend, and manage to without any new fires from fireworks … it will be a victory,” Decker said.

The Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes placed additional restrictions on the discharge of fireworks on Tribal lands within the Flathead Reservation, with restrictions taking effect 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.

Ordinance 81 was already in effect, which applies to tribal wilderness and campgrounds. The ordinance also allows Council to designate any tribal lands under restriction.

On Tuesday, Council extended the fireworks ban to all tribal lands including Tribal leased land and homes under the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority.

Council members said this has been the driest year anyone could recall and the tightest restrictions were the best course of action to ensure the safety of people and the protection of tribal natural resources. 

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will take effect statewide at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Campfires and other fires are prohibited except in designated sites. Liquid petroleum and LPG stoves that can be turned on and off are allowed.

Smoking is prohibited outside of vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites, unless you are in a 3-foot-diameter area cleared of all burnable vegetation.

On Tuesday Ronan City Council also created a ban on fireworks within the City limits, with violators being fined up to $500.  

 

 

 

 

Sponsored by: