In the wake of fires throughout the Big Horn Basin, Park County is joining the Shoshone National Forest and regional BLM office in instituting Stage 1 fire restrictions. 

Park County Fire Warden Jerry Parker requested the resolution to county commissioners Tuesday. He generally requests restrictions once both the Forest Service and BLM have adopted restrictions. 

Restrictions are being implemented later than is often the case — a couple times recently restrictions have been implemented soon after Fourth of July fireworks go off — but in the last week multiple fires have flared across the southern Big Horn Basin, especially around Meeteetse and Thermopolis. 

“Do a rain dance,” Parker joked.

Stage 1 fire restrictions

• Any ignition or discharge of any fireworks and all outdoor open fires are prohibited in unimproved areas of Park County (except as provided below), which areas include all County land and private land, including but not limited to all lands owned by Park County or in which Park County holds or owns and interest, including county roads, easements and rights of way. 

• Only campfires at residences or campsites, within a fire ring centered within a minimum of a 15 feet cleared radius of burnable materials are permitted. 

• Trash or refuse fires between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., inside containers provided with a spark arrester and located within a cleared radius of a minimum of 15 feet of burnable materials are permitted. 

• Charcoal fires within enclosed grills and enclosed propane grills are permitted. 

• Use of acetylene cutting, electric arc welders, or metal grinding in a cleared radius of 15 feet of burnable materials is permitted. 

• The use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel or fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stove and open fire branding activities in a cleared radius of 15 feet of burnable materials is permitted. 

The following persons are exempt from the restrictions imposed in Stage 1 Restrictions: 

• Any federal, state, or local officers engaged in fire, emergency, and law enforcement activities. 

• Any member of a rescue or firefighting force engaged in the performance of an official duty. 

• Exceptions to these restrictions and closures can be made in writing by the Park County Commissioners. 

• Persons conducting agricultural burns on private lands, but only with notification to local dispatch when beginning and ending the burn. 

• Park County Landfill exemption to conduct their scheduled burns with the stipulation to place a call to Park County dispatch before they burn at the Park County designated landfills. 

Unimproved land is defined to mean cropland, agricultural land and undeveloped land which predominately remains in the natural forested or range condition. 

These restrictions do not include the areas within incorporated cities and towns in Park County or federal lands, as these entities may impose more or less restrictive regulations.