Airshed
Management
System

During the Winter Season (December 1 – February 28), smoke management decision support for member burners, including meteorology and notification of any open burning restrictions, are no longer coordinated or communicated via the Airshed Management System. It is the responsibility of the burner to comply with any/all restrictions/regulations issued by county, state, and tribal coordinators/officials. It is the responsibility of the burner to check the applicable open burning information for their geographic area prior to ignition. **** Change the status of any existing approved burns to completed and enter burned acres***

Burners must follow the following instructions depending on the location of the burn:

MONTANA BURNERS:

From December 1 through the last day of February, approval from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality is required before burning.

If you have a burn project that you would like to attempt during the winter season, please follow these steps:

1. Determine a tentative burn plan.
2. In the days leading up to a burn, call DEQ’s meteorologist if you’d like help identifying a good burn window based on forecast ventilation conditions (OPTIONAL).
3. Propose the burn in AMS by noon the day prior to planned ignition.
4. DEQ will approve or restrict burns on an individual basis the day prior to the proposal date between noon and 4pm.
5. On burn day, confirm you’ve been approved in AMS prior to ignition. If your burn is approved in AMS there is NO NEED to also call DEQ the morning of the burn.
1. If forecast conditions look borderline on the day prior to the burn, DEQ’s meteorologist might leave your proposal pending and wait to make a day-of decision. Call DEQ’s meteorologist if your burn decision is still pending in AMS on burn day and you have not been otherwise communicated with.
6. After burning, report completed acres in AMS by noon the following day. If no burning was attempted, enter zero acres burned.

Contact information for Kelly Dorsi, DEQ’s meteorologist, is 406-444-0283 or Kelly.Dorsi@mt.gov. If you do not hear back within two hours, please call Brandon McGuire at 406-444-6257. For general information please call 406-444-3409.

IDAHO BURNERS:

1. Propose the burn in AMS by 1200 MDT the day prior to ignition

The morning of ignition, check for local restrictions map. Visit: http://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Map/OutdoorBurn

Follow the Outdoor Burning Condition for required burn approval

Green Condition = Burning Unrestricted

Yellow Condition = Burning is restricted by local ordinances or agreements or Fire Safety Restrictions in and around this location. Call your local Idaho DEQ Office if you would like to discuss options/exceptions.

Red Condition = No Burning Per State Rule or No burning per a local ordinance triggered by DEQ forecast or measured air quality data.

To assist in planning burners can check the air quality forecast for your area for the following day to see if air quality forecast may restrict burning here: http://www2.deq.idaho.gov/air/AQIPublic/Forecast?siteId=1