Missoula County Fire Protection Association
Missoula County Fire Protection Association
Protecting People, Homes & Natural Resources  |  Southwest Montana
Missoula County has six "outdoor burning windows." Two of these seasons benefit the General Public who have a need to burn vegetation outdoors.
FIRE DANGER
LOW
Fire Danger in Missoula County Montana
MISSOULA COUNTY BURNING SEASONS
Burning allowed spring and fall in Missoula County MT with restrictions
LOW
FIRE DANGER
Fire Danger in Missoula County Montana
Missoula County prohibits smoke in the valleys year round due to stagnation of air
Spring / General Outdoor Burning is March 1 to August 31. Often called Spring Burning, this season allows the public to burn yard debris in piles. Those with agricultural or wildland burning needs can also burn in the spring.* Usually fire danger ends this season in early July.
Spring Burning in Missoula County is for yard debris generated on your property
*Fall Burning typically is October 1 to November 30. The Fall season is available ONLY to those with Essential Agricultural and Prescribed Wildland burning needs that they cannot meet in the Spring. In the Fall, yard waste and pile burns are prohibited due mostly to air quality issues.
Fall Burning in Missoula County is for agriculture and prescribed wildlands
*Further info on who qualifies for Fall Burning below.
NO BURNING
of leaves and grass within the Air Stagnation Zones of Missoula County MT (Airshed Maps).

*Missoula City residents must obtain Permits & Site Inspections from the City-County Health Department: Call 258-4755 / 301 Alder St. Missoula.
Airshed Management System manages large burners in Missoula County MT
Missoula County does not manage burns on public lands, such as those managed by the US Forest Service, in Montana and Idaho. Those "Major Burns" are managed by the Airshed Management System during prescribed fire season.
IT'S FALL:  WHY CAN'T I BURN ?  
Prescribed Wildland Burning
These burns occur on forest land or relatively undeveloped rangeland to :
• improve wildlife habitat
• improve range conditions
• promote forest regeneration
• reduce the fire hazard from forestry practices (such as logging)
• control forest pests and diseases
WHO CAN BURN?

Fall burning is limited to that which cannot be done readily in the spring and for which no reasonable alternative for achieving goals or disposing of material is available. This includes two basic categories: Prescribed (Rx) Wildland Burning and Essential Agricultural Burning.
Essential Agricultural Burning
These burns occur on a farm or ranch to:
• eliminate excess vegetation from cultivated fields
• improve range conditions
• improve wildlfire habitat


Essential agricultural burning is almost always field or broadcast burning -- not the burning of piles.
BURNING SEASONS:
General
March 1 - August 31

Essential Agricultural
March 1 - October 31

Prescribed Wildland
March 1 - November 30
Conditional
March 1 - October 31


Film Production

March - August

Firefighter Training
March - November

Emergency
All year
BURN EARLY:
All burn permits start March 1st. Use them early!
All permits void when fire danger warrants.
Missoula County MT
BURNING TIP
SMOKE FROM THE HILLS
Missoula County does not manage burns on public lands, such as those managed by the US Forest Service, in Montana and Idaho. Those "Major Burns" are managed by the Airshed Management System
during prescribed fire season.
Spring Burning in Missoula County is for yard debris generated on your property
SPRING
GENERAL BURNING
Homeowners Can Burn Yard Waste

ESSENTIAL AGRICULTURE
Landowners Can Burn for Agricultural Best Practices

PRESCRIBED WILDLAND
Landowners Can Burn to Reduce Wildlfire Hazards & Improve Ecosystems
BURN PERMIT CATEGORIES
Fall Burning in Missoula County is for agriculture and prescribed wildlands
FALL
NO GENERAL YARD DEBRIS
BURNS (
SPRING ONLY)

ESSENTIAL AGRICULTURE
Landowners Can Burn for Agricultural Best Practices

PRESCRIBED WILDLAND
Landowners Can Burn to Reduce Wildlfire Hazards & Improve Ecosystems
BURN PERMIT  ALLOWABLES
Spring Burning - 3/1 - 8/31
General Outdoor Burning
Applies to homeowners and property (agricultural or forest/wild lands) owners.  
YOU CAN BURN: ONLY natural vegetation and untreated dimensional lumber generated on your property. 

*Fall Burning - 10/1 - 11/30
Essential Agricultural and Prescribed Wildland
Applies to ONLY those who live on a farm or ranch or on forest land or relatively undeveloped rangeland.
See "It's Fall: Why Can't I Burn" below for more specifics.
YOU CAN BURN: ONLY natural vegetation and untreated dimensional lumber generated on your property. 
DO NOT BURN
household garbage dead animals animal droppings treated wood chemicals or synthetics (rubber and plastics)
Missoula County Fire Protection Association Montana
Permit
Rules
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Tips
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Fire Plans
BURNING SEASONS - Missoula County Fire Protection Association Montana
BURN PERMIT SEASONS
in Missoula County MT
Do I Qualify
WHO CAN BURN WHEN ?
What Can I Burn ?
Outdoor Burn Permits are strictly limited in the City of Missoula. Missoula Residents need at least an acre of land. Burn site inspected by the City-County Health Department.
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GOT YOUR BURN PERMIT NUMBER?
Keep your Burn Permit handy -- for important reasons. Burn Permits....