Stage 1 Fire Restrictions and Closures on The Northern Cheyenne Reservation
Incident: Eagle Creek Wildfire
Released: 9/26/2012
United States Department of the
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
NORTHERN CHEYENNE AGENCY
LAME DEER, MONTANA 59043
NOTICE
STAGE I FIRE RESTRICTIONS - VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FIRE RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES.
EFFECTIVE: July 4, 2012 (Until rescinded or superseded)
FIRE RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
» All outside burning is prohibited, such as field clearing, campfires and trash burning etc. Inquiries
contact Fire and Aviation Office at (406) 477-8264 or 8267, NOTE: Building or maintaining an
open fire outside campgrounds or picnic areas is prohibited.
» All outside open fires are not permitted, Gas burning or electric cooking and lighting devices (which
can be shut off with a switch or valve) are permitted within residential areas or campgrounds.
Permission may be granted by the Branch of Forestry, Fire and Aviation Office on a case-by-case basis
for open fire cookouts, wood, charcoal and gas grill in residential areas or camp grounds depending on
the location and fire danger for that area,
» Dwellings with fireplaces or wood burning (cooking or heating) stoves should have proper screens
installed to prevent the escape of burning embers (homeowner's responsibility), Fires in wood burning
stoves are not allowed on Red Flag Days, Strong or gusty surface winds (5 mph sustained, 25 mph
gusts), along with low relative humidity (less than 25%). Approved mufflers or spark arresters are
required for ALL EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES and HEAVY EQUIPMENT (Off-road
vehicles, chainsaws, etc. If unsure, please bring to Branch of Forestry, Fire Aviation Office in Lame
Deer and we will inspect it).
» Travel throughout the reservation will be restricted (no stopping or parking along roadway or in barrow
pit next to roadway), including U.S. Highway 212, U.S. Highway 39, U.S. Highway 314, BIA Road #4.
» Lame Deer / Birney, BIA Road #5 Muddy Creek and BIA Road/State Highway #447, BIA Road #11
Ashland North / Birney and all unpaved roads and two tracks. Travel will be permitted to any permanent
resident going to or from their place of residence or business. Personnel exempt from the above
restrictions include Federal and Tribal employees, such as Tribal Resource Managers and Bureau of
Indian Affairs Employees while in the performance of their official duties. The use of fireworks is
strictly prohibited and WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. Smoking restrictions are also in effect.
Smoking is only allowed indoors and in vehicles.
» Notify BIA Fire and Ayiation at (406) 477-8264 and BlA Law Enforcement at (406) 477-6288 to inform
them of your plans to have a ceremonial/sweat fire. Fire and Aviation Office at (406) 477-8264 or 8267.
Fire and Aviation office will make an on-site evaluation and recommendation on the action to be taken.
>- When you light your ceremonial/sweat fire here are some standard safety practices that can be used:
1. Never leave your fire unattended.
2. Never start your fire during windy conditions. Always check weather and wind forecasts at
(406)652-0851 or online at (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/byz/) before you light a fire.
3. Carry extra shovels and hand-tools and also have extra water available to keep your fire from
becoming a wildland fire.
4. Make sure your ceremonial/sweat fire is completely out before you leave it.
The following acts are prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.:
· Operating any motorized engine. This includes all vehicles and heavy equipment (logging
skidders, harvesters, trucks, bulldozers, road graders, etc. Farming and harvesting equipment
includes but is not limited to tractors, trucks, swathers, balers)
· Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame
A one hour foot patrol in the work area is required following cessation of all activities as identified above.
Always keep a fire extinguisher, hand tools (shovel and Pulaski and water available to extinguish a fire or hot
ashes.
The above restrictions will remain in effect until rescinded under authority of the Northern Cheyenne Tribal
EXECUTIVE ORDER. Personnel exempt from the above restrictions included Federal and Tribal employees
while in the performance of their official duties. These restrictions will be enforced by Law Enforcement
Services under authority of Tribal Ordinance #7 (90).
VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FIRE RESTRICTION AND ROAD CLOSURES
Fire Restriction and Closure Plan 2012
Bureau ofindian Affairs - Northern Cheyenne Agency
O '1 '1+;.,PRESIENr fDATE
NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBE
ACTING I OF POLICE
LAW ENFORCEMENT - BrA
DATE
Qo 7/Y.(2..0IL
SUPERINTENDENT DATE
BIA, NORTHERN CHEYENNE AGENCY
FIRE MANAGEMENT OFFICER - BrA
