Discovering Montana

Executive Order 19-00


EXECUTIVE ORDER PROCLAIMING DANGEROUS FIRE AREAS IN
FOREST LANDS IN THE COUNTIES OF MISSOULA, MINERAL,
RAVALLI, POWELL, GRANITE, BUTTE-SILVER BOW, ANACONDA-
DEER LODGE, SANDERS, AND THAT PORTION OF LEWIS & CLARK
WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

    WHEREAS, wildland fires are currently burning and have created an imminent threat of a disaster in the Montana counties of Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Powell, Granite, Butte-Silver Bow, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Sanders, and that portion of Lewis & Clark located to the west of the Continental Divide; and

    WHEREAS, the Governor has issued Executive Order No. 18-00 proclaiming an emergency to exist statewide due to wildland fires; and

    WHEREAS, there is a need to control ingress and egress to and from forest lands to protect the public health and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the people of this state in the designated counties; and

    WHEREAS, there is a demonstrated need for residential ingress and egress in the areas of dangerous fire hazard; and

    WHEREAS, there is a demonstrated need and an opportunity for recreation in limited portions of the areas of dangerous fire hazard.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARC RACICOT, Governor of the State of Montana, pursuant to authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of Montana, Title 10, chapter 3, MCA (1999), § 87-3-106 MCA (1999), and ARM 36.10.120, do hereby declare that all state and private forest lands, as defined in § 76-13-102(8) MCA (1999), in the Montana counties of Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Powell, Granite, Butte-Silver Bow, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Sanders, and that portion of Lewis & Clark located to the west of the Continental Divide, are designated as areas of dangerous fire hazard. The following restrictions apply in areas of dangerous fire hazard:

No person may enter or be upon any forest land without a written permit except as provided in this Executive Order. Permits may be issued upon a showing of demonstrated need. No permit shall be required of those persons having an actual residence as a permanent or principal place of abode in the closed forest lands for the sole purpose of ingress and egress to their actual residence. No permit shall be required of any persons engaged in firefighting, fire prevention, or law enforcement when engaged in official business. All hunting and fishing on state and private forest lands in the areas of dangerous fire hazard are prohibited.

    The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, as the designated agency for issuance of written permits on state and private lands, may also issue general permits for ingress and egress to and from designated portions of the areas of dangerous fire hazard which will be published in a manner deemed appropriate by the Department.

    This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. on August 11, 2000, and will remain in effect until rescinded or revoked.

  GIVEN under my hand and the GREAT
SEAL of the State of Montana,
this ___ day of __________, 2000.


MARC RACICOT, Governor
ATTEST:


MIKE COONEY, Secretary of State

Former Governor Racicot's Page Executive Orders