CSKT Division of Fire

06/16/2026

The Mission Valley Helitack Crew has been dispatched to the state of Washington, near Yakima, to the Tule Fire, approximately 16,000 acres.

06/16/2026

June 16, 10:00am- Ronan, Montana –Wildland fire officials with the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Division of Fire have raised fire danger within the Flathead Indian Reservation to MODERATE.

Debris burning with permit is still open, but the DOF urges all outdoor burners to not burn on windy days. Everyone who burns needs to have water on-scene and a tool suitable for throwing dirt on an escaping fire prior to ignition.

This week forecast calls for above normal temperatures in the 80’s. Vegetation is beginning to cure, so please do your part to ensure there is One Less Spark as a result of your outdoor activities in the heat of the afternoon.

● Make sure all trailer chains are secure and try to do farm/ranch activities in the morning before the heat of the day.

● Make sure your campfire is in an established fire ring and not a rock ring.

● Make sure your campfire is out when you leave the area. Use plenty of water and tools to stir up the area. Don’t leave until the area is cool to the touch.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this notice, please contact Division of Fire at 676-2550 or contact C.T. Camel, Fire Management Specialist, at 406-676-2550 ext. 6407 or email: [email protected]

06/16/2026

Division of Fire officials recommend that you do not debris burn, today, Tuesday June 16. Today’s weather forecast:
Sunny, with a high near 85. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. High wind advisory from 1pm to 10pm.

05/30/2026

The CSKT Division of Fire is monitoring a fire in the McDonald Lake area. The Valentine Creek Fire is located 6 miles NE of St Ignatius MT, mid slope in the Mission Mtn’s (5400’) burning a single tree from a lightning strike. The size of the fire is 1/10-.25 acre. The fire has shown no spread. The fire area is forecasted to receive significant precipitation over the next 72 hr period.

05/19/2026

Last week the Division of Fire participated in the 39th Annual 2026 River Honoring Event. This two day event has 20 stations, focused on education for over a 1,000 Western Montana 4th and 5th-grade students through cultural, biological, and stewardship-based activities.

05/12/2026

The Division of Fire would like to make the public aware that the Missoula Smoke Jumpers will be completing proficiency jumps, today in the Sloan’s Bridge area preparing for the 2026 wildfire season.

If you have additional questions please contact the Division of Fire at 676-2550.

05/11/2026

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire Fuels Program will be conducting a prescribed burn today, Monday, May 11. The Rx burn is located in the Alder Ditch area, 5 miles northwest of Lonepine, MT. This burn is approximately 50 acres.

A. Resource Objectives:
1. Restoration of the non-lethal fire regime, woodland and park-like forest structures through prescribed fire activities.
2. Provide for forest health with maintenance burning.

B. Prescribed Fire Objectives:
 Retain greater than 85% of the overstory Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees equal to or greater than 6-inch dbh.
 Retain greater than 60% of the pole-size Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees equal to or greater than 2-inch dbh and less than 6-inch dbh.
 Achieve greater than 40% mortality in all Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir seedlings and saplings less than 2-inch dbh.
 Achieve 60% or greater fire coverage across areas burned.

04/30/2026

https://www.kpax.com/news/western-montana-news/cskt-division-of-fire-details-aerial-firefighting-resources-proceedures

Ahead of this fire season, MTN got an inside look at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes helitack base in Ronan.

04/30/2026

The Division of Fire and Ronan Rural Fire Department participated in the Role Model Readers breakfast with William K. Harvey Elementary this morning.

04/26/2026

Spring burning by permit season starts Friday, May 1. To burn from May 1 to June 30 you will need a burn permit. You can apply for one at the Division of Fire website; cskt.org/division-of-fire/ Burn permits will be available on-line starting Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Burning is a great way to clear dead vegetation and clean up. Before you light your piles or grass this spring, take the necessary precautions to ensure your burn does not become the next wildfire. Careless debris burning is one of the main causes of wildfire on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

If you intend to burn, have in place:
• A current weather forecast for your local area
• Water source (such as a hose, buckets, pond or lake)
• Fire tools or equipment depending on the size of your burn
• Enough help to respond in the event that fire behavior increases.

CAUTION
Burn early in the day and check the weather for the afternoon or next day wind conditions. Do not burn when high or erratic winds are forecast or dry conditions prevail. Have proper personnel, equipment, & water supply with you and always make sure the area is cold to the touch before leaving. Checking the following day is also important as stumps or roots may be holding heat that could re-ignite.
If a fire does get out of control call 911 immediately.

Remember you are responsible for any and all suppression, property costs if your fire escapes your control.

If you have any questions about debris burning call the Division of Fire at 676-2550.

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunity and protect and improve the trust assets.