For immediate release: June 30, 2021

Due to dangerous fire conditions caused by a continued drought in southwest Montana, the Gallatin County Commission has banned fireworks, recreational burning, and open burning in two high fire hazard areas in the county ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

On Wednesday, commissioners approved an emergency ordinance that bans those fire-related activities in the Big Sky Fire District and in the Hebgen Basin Fire District in the West Yellowstone area.

See the full ordinance here.

The emergency ordinance is effective immediately. It will automatically expire after 90 days unless rescinded sooner by the county commission.

Most fire districts in Gallatin County have also banned permitted open burning within their districts. The latest information on which districts currently have bans can be found at gallatinburnpermits.com.

Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands such as U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.

The Town of West Yellowstone has prohibited fireworks within town limits over the Fourth of July weekend.

Gallatin County’s other cities and towns have their own fireworks regulations in place. Know what fireworks restrictions are in your area before considering shooting off fireworks. Please contact your local agencies for more information about specific rules that they have in place.

The Gallatin County Commission urges everyone to celebrate the Fourth of July safely and responsibly this year.