EMA warns commissioners of worsening drought; county ordinance on burn bans could be requested

EMA staff provided an updated drought monitor and urged commissioners to be prepared to consider a county-level burn-ban ordinance if conditions worsen.

An EMA official said, "So every Thursday, they update the drought monitor, and so this is today's drought monitor update," and explained that local conditions (notably in Claver/Billings areas) are "getting really dry." Staff told commissioners that versions of a burn-ban ordinance were already included in the packet and that they would likely return to the commission in the next one to two weeks if conditions required it so the county would not be delayed by absence of legal reviewers.

EMA staff also explained that fire districts do not have the statutory authority to impose a county-wide restriction in many cases, making county-level action the appropriate tool to address a broad burn ban. Commissioners said they wanted to review the ordinance language in advance so county counsel could clear it quickly if needed.

No formal ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff said it would return with an ordinance proposal if drought conditions warrant.