BISMARCK – The Dakota Prairie Grasslands (DPG) issued an updated Emergency Fire Closure Order for National Forest System lands in Billings, Golden Valley, McKenzie and Slope counties within the Little Missouri National Grassland. The update reflects expected fuel conditions as the summer season progresses. The previous fire closure order has been rescinded.

The new order goes into effect immediately and will remain in place through Dec. 31 unless rescinded earlier. Restrictions apply only when a county is listed as having High, Very High, or Extreme fire danger on the North Dakota Fire Danger Rating Map, or when that county is under a Red Flag Warning. A key change in this updated order is the addition of the “High” fire danger category, which now triggers certain prohibited activities, such as building campfires outside of established metal fire rings.

Daily updates, including Burn Ban Restrictions, Fire Danger Maps and Red Flag Warnings, are posted by 7 a.m. at www.ndresponse.gov.

Under this order, the following actions are prohibited on a county-by-county basis on National Forest System lands when fire danger reaches specified thresholds:

– Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.

– Smoking, except inside an enclosed vehicle or building, or in an area cleared of all flammable material for at least three feet.

– Operating wheeled motor vehicles–including sedans, pickups, and ATV/UTVs–on non-surfaced “Prairie Two Track” roads.

“Prairie Two Track” refers to wheel depressions in the soil with no visible recent maintenance, such as grading or added aggregate.

The following exemptions apply:

– Individuals with a valid Forest Service permit authorizing exemption.

– Motorists traveling on Prairie Two Track roads during High or Very High fire danger who carry a 2A or larger fire extinguisher.

– Operators of electric bicycles (E-bikes).

– Campfires within a metal fire ring at developed Forest Service recreation sites during High fire danger, with water or firefighting tools readily available.

– Stoves or grills powered by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be shut off, when used in an area cleared of flammable material.

– Federal, State, and local officers or firefighters performing official duties.