Open Burning Prohibited on Crow Reservation

No burn permits will be issued on the Crow Reservation from now until at least April 10 when Montana’s current Stay at Home directive may end.

According to a release from the Crow Agency, especially under current health guidelines, unnecessary burning puts both those doing the burning and first responders at risk. Smoke from the burning can hurt people with respiratory symptoms.

The release states that even after grass has started to turn green, it can put up a lot of smoke.

Response time can also be slowed as the Agency tries to keep firefighters healthy.

The Agency reported that firefighters this past week responded to 13 small wildfires near Lodge Grass, Wyola, Pryor and Crow. A fifth fire at about 9 p.m. Thursday in Dunmore resulted from cooking.

The Agency reports that most fires this year have been the result of children playing with matches, or from vehicles towing. People are asked to keep children busy with them at home.

They are also asked to make certain that nothing hot gets near the dumps. The Agency notes that dump fire smoke is noxious and long-lasting.