[0:02] Good morning.
What is it? September 3rd today, 10:00
[0:08] in the morning. We're
calling a special emergency meeting to
[0:12] discuss the possibility of rescinding
stage one fire restrictions. So,
[0:17] I'll let Doug lead us on this as far as
what's happening on the ground and why
[0:21] we're doing this.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. So, uh
[0:25] we obviously monitor conditions very
closely. We want to be flexible with
[0:29] with as flexible as we can be while
maintaining fire safety with the with
[0:33] where we are with fire restrictions. We
try not to go into stage restrictions
[0:37] when we can, but when conditions require
it, I appreciate the being proactive and
[0:41] being able to
try to limit the exposures that we have
[0:45] in the county to wildfire. And so, I I
but in that respect, I also think it's
[0:50] important for us to act when conditions
are not as severe and get reduced and
[0:55] so, people can enjoy having some
campfires again. I Again, conditions
[0:59] aren't totally relaxed, so I it's still
I think appropriate to keep maintain our
[1:04] debris burning
closures, which is those fires that are
[1:08] bigger than 48 in, but
all our conditions indicate that we are
[1:14] coming out of and should remain out of
stage one requirement. So, our
[1:20] energy release components have all been
below the 80th percentile for or at the
[1:24] 80th percentile for quite for the last
week or so and
[1:28] with the shortening days,
we're still going to see some warm days.
[1:33] We're in the red flag conditions
actually right now, which primarily
[1:37] because of humidity and and wind, not so
much because of the heat, but I just
[1:42] don't see the hazard there anymore and
so, I would like to see us be proactive
[1:46] and
try to get folks to and be able to enjoy
[1:49] their campfires again and campfire
property. So, that's why I wanted to
[1:53] bring it for you today. If you have
questions, I'm happy to entertain.
[1:57] » The Forest Service, the federally
>> never did.
[2:00] » The federal agencies did not, but well,
I shouldn't say that. The Forest
[2:04] Service, the BLM,
um and FWP on any lands that they have,
[2:08] they follow the county and did do so.
So, they along with DNRC.
[2:14] So, they all followed us into stage one
and they
[2:18] at the coordination call Tuesday, I let
them know that you were going to
[2:22] consider this and they will be following
us out as well. So,
[2:26] it's it's nice to have that
coordination.
[2:28] » [clears throat]
>> Well, it was just about two weeks of
[2:31] restriction then and about it, huh?
>> I think it Well, I think it was a little
[2:35] more than that. It was August 13th.
So, it was Yeah, a little bit more than
[2:41] that and that's and and, you know,
if you don't have a crystal ball, so
[2:45] it's never easy to say. And so, you but
I I I think it's important for us to be
[2:50] proactive, especially given
the other the other measurable that we
[2:54] look at is the available resources and
given
[2:58] what we what we call this the
preparedness level, the PL, that's the
[3:02] thing that we watch for for availability
of resources both in the Northern
[3:06] Rockies geographical area, which Montana
is a part of and that has that's dropped
[3:11] down
one
[3:13] notch. So, essentially, there is a few
more resources available. So, that's an
[3:18] important part of it, too, because
when we're in that PL3, PL4 area,
[3:24] the hazard of not being able to
necessarily catch even smaller stuff if
[3:28] you don't have the people to go out and
fight it is a also important
[3:31] consideration. So, that's another data
point that's gotten better and and so, I
[3:35] think
I think we're
[3:38] cautiously optimistic. I mean, we're
certainly not out of fire season yet,
[3:41] but I think I think it's reasonable to
to uh
[3:45] release or rescind those stage one
restrictions and that's my
[3:48] recommendation.
>> I I going to say hunting season starts
[3:52] this weekend, so
>> Hunting season does start
[3:54] » Does typically the forest anyway.
>> It is the forest most mostly, but um and
[4:00] again, I try to be I mean, obviously
those take into consideration, but I'm
[4:04] very data-driven when it comes to this
stuff. I like to follow what the
[4:07] conditions are
as close as we can. So
[4:12] » Well, it's getting a little cooler, and
I think people enjoy
[4:15] still being able to go out in the yard,
have a little fire for warmth and
[4:19] » Yep.
>> ambiance.
[4:21] » Absolutely. And I have and and just for
the record, so you are aware, so I did
[4:26] speak with the town of Whitehall because
they went in with stage restrictions as
[4:30] well after we did, and then I I talked
to the mayor down there yesterday and
[4:35] let her know that you were also
considering this. Boulder never did do
[4:38] that, but I visited with them a little
bit on that as well, so
[4:43] » No, it got to like 24 the other morning.
>> It's getting chilly. I'll take it. It
[4:47] feels great.
>> [laughter]
[4:50] » Yep.
>> All right. Well, let me read this. This
[4:53] one is pretty quick.
Whereas on December 16th, 2025, the
[4:57] Board of County Commissioners passed
Resolution 28-25
[5:00] establishing a controlled burning season
in Jefferson County for 2026. Whereas on
[5:05] August 13th, 2026, the Board of
Jefferson County Commissioners passed
[5:08] Resolution 17-26 establishing Stage 1
fire restrictions
[5:13] and in Jeffer- or in Jefferson County,
um
[5:17] and then it goes through all the reasons
why.
[5:20] And so hereby resolved by the Board of
County Commissioners that Resolution
[5:25] 17-2026 is hereby rescinded and Stage 1
fire restrictions are hereby lifted for
[5:30] all county and private lands in
Jefferson County.
[5:34] And it's further further resolved this
resolution becomes effective at 12:01
[5:38] tomorrow,
September 4th, passed and approved on
[5:41] this 3rd day of September, 2026 by the
Board of County Commissioners.
[5:46] I'll entertain a motion. So moved. I'll
second.
[5:49] Any other discussion on this one?
DD, Richard, anything to say? No? Okay.
[5:56] I guess that we'll move to vote on this.
So, all in favor say I. I.
[6:00] » I.
>> All right.
[6:02] It is passed.
I think that's it. Anything else, Doug?
[6:05] » That's that's it. I appreciate it. If I
can just get a copy of that, I'll have
[6:09] to send that out to our partners.
>> Thanks.
[6:13] That's why I have to bring my
>> I should have brought
[6:16] » booklet. I don't have a pen, either.
>> Yeah, I I had mine in my truck and
[6:20] I had a few.
>> [clears throat]
[6:21] » I'm going to get a pen.
Richard, I got a pen.
[6:25] All right, I guess we will be adjourned.
Thank you, everybody.
[6:27] » you guys. I really appreciate you
making the