Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking hunters to voluntarily refrain from hunting in and around the Derby fire area until the situation is stabilized and conditions improve.

Human safety is the first concern. The fire presents extremely dangerous and unpredictable conditions. The fire is expected to grow on its western side and there are hot spots elsewhere that could cause new starts. As of today the fire is 25 percent contained and has burned near 180,000 acres in Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties.

Also of concern is the need for unhindered access for fire-fighting equipment. If still planning to hunt, hunters should talk to private landowners where they will be hunting to designate specific areas for parking vehicles that are clear of dry grass and brush. Vehicles should not be parked on roads, as they could present obstacles for fire-fighting equipment needing to get through.

All hunters planning to hunt on private land in south central Montana should call the property owners before heading out. Block Management Area landowners and other private landowners may choose to close their land to hunting if they feel the fire risk on their property is too high.

Most of south central Montana is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Under these restrictions there can be no open fires and no driving off designated roads. Additionally, smoking should be done in an enclosed vehicle, building or on a developed recreation site. For a complete list of fire restrictions visit FWP’s Drought and Fire Updates page at fwp.mt.gov.

A reminder, anyone hunting or recreating in any part of the state should take the following precautions to prevent the start of wildfires:

- When you park your vehicle make sure no dry grass is touching the catalytic converter or exhaust system.

- Avoid traveling off-road.

- Carry standard fire suppression equipment in your vehicle, including a gallon or two of water.   A fire extinguisher is a plus.

- Avoid campfires in dry areas, whether there are Stage I or II fire restrictions in place or not.

- Limit smoking to inside an automobile or buildings.   

- If you are headed outdoors for the day, or an overnight trip, check the fire restrictions that apply where you intend to travel and to camp. Sources of this informaiton include all state and federal land management agencies, county commission offices, local fire officials, and the Internet. For FWP sites, go to FWP’s Drought & Fire Updates.

- When requesting permission to use private land, discuss the fire threat with the landowner so he or she knows you are aware of the problem and will act accordingly.

- Stay clear of areas of active fire to avoid creating safety issues and possibly delaying the supression effort.

For more information visit fwp.mt.gov or call FWP’s Region 5 office in Billings at 406-247-2950