Debris burning closed on Flathead Reservation

Debris burning is closed for the winter months of December, January and February due to chronic weather conditions that can trap stale air close to the valley floor.

According to a press release from the CSKT Division of Fire, when the temperature drops and cold air blankets the ground, any warm air is forced to pass over it. In this way, the cold air can form “a kind of cap,” so that smoke isn’t as free to escape and disperse in the dense colder air.

“You can think of this as a sort of smoke-catching blanket that covers the ground when it’s winter,” writes spokesperson C.T. Camel. “Cold air is denser and moves more slowly than warm air. This density means that cold air traps the smoke but also doesn’t whisk it away.”

Because smoke lingers in the air for much longer during the winter, it can pose health problems.

Open debris burning starts March 1 on the Flathead Indian Reservation, and does not require a burn permit through April 30.

For more information, call 406-676-2550 or follow CSKT Division of Fire on Facebook.