BILLINGS – Big Horn, Musselshell, Yellowstone and Phillips counties are in stage 1 fire restrictions. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks follows the county’s lead in placing fire restrictions on its properties within a particular county.

Under stage 1 restrictions, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire at FWP sites is not allowed. People may only smoke within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter cleared of flammable materials. People may cook on a liquid petroleum gas or propane stove that can be turned on and off.

Exceptions to these restrictions include the picnic areas at Chief Plenty Coups State Park in Bighorn County and Lake Elmo in Yellowstone County, where cooking fires are allowed in designated barbecues.

The following FWP sites in Big Horn County are under these fire restrictions: Big Horn Fishing Access Site (FAS), Mallard’s Landing FAS, Two Leggins FAS, Arapooish FAS, Grant Marsh FAS and Wildlife Management Area (WMA), General Custer FAS, Manual Lisa FAS, and Chief Plenty Coups State Park.

The following FWP sites in Yellowstone County are under these fire restrictions: Buffalo Mirage FAS, Duck Creek FAS, Blue Creek FAS, South Hills FAS, East Bridge FAS, Voyager’s Rest FAS, Gritty Stone FAS, Bundy Bridge FAS, Captain Clark FAS, Manual Lisa FAS, Broadview Pond FAS, Yellowstone WMA, Pictograph Cave State Park, and Lake Elmo State Park.

The following FWP sites in Phillips County are under these fire restrictions: Cole Ponds FAS, Bjornberg Bridge FAS, Alkali Creek FAS, Cree Crossing WMA, Sleeping Buffalo WMA, and Dodson Dam WMA.

There are no FWP managed sites in Musselshell County.

These restrictions at FWP sites will be in place until further notice. FWP urges people to use caution while they are out recreating due to dry conditions and fire dangers.