March is here, and that means outdoor burning opens in Missoula County. The General, Essential Agriculture, and Prescribed Wildland Outdoor Burning Seasons open on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Missoula County. If you are planning to burn any natural vegetation or untreated wood from your property, you must purchase an outdoor burn permit and activate it the day you plan to burn. Permits cost $7.00 annually and can be purchased or renewed online at burn.egovmt.com or in person at most local fire protection agencies.
Within Missoula City limits, parcels must be at least one acre or more in size to be eligible for an outdoor burn permit; recreational fires are banned year-round in City limits. Only natural vegetation and untreated wood generated on site can be burned with a permit. Additionally, inside the Missoula Air Stagnation Zone (an area that stretches about four miles outside Missoula City limits), it is illegal to burn piles of leaves and grasses because of the excessive and irritating smoke that it produces. If you are within the Air Stagnation Zone, dispose of leaves and grass by composting them or delivering them to a facility such as Garden City Compost. Dumping of any type of yard debris on public lands is prohibited.
Before lighting your fire, you must activate your permit each day you plan to burn either online (burn.egovmt.com) or by calling the automated activation phone line at 1-888-583-6497. Burning is allowed after 9:00 a.m. and the fire needs to be out by 4:00 p.m.
“9 a.m. to 4 p.m. offers the best window for smoke dispersion, which is what we need to keep our valleys from accumulating smoke from outdoor burning,” said Kerri Mueller, Air Quality Specialist with Missoula County. “When the sun rises, it warms up the surface level air causing the air to lift and mix. When the sun sets, air movement can practically halt as cold air settles to the ground. Burning past 4 p.m. has the potential to trap smoke near the ground overnight polluting our breathing zone and negatively impacting people’s health.”
If you are planning to burn this spring, please be aware of the conditions of not only your burn pile, but the vegetation in the surrounding area as well as forecasted weather. Always monitor the weather as wind conditions can change. Vegetation may be dry and fire can spread quickly in dry grass on windy days. After activating your permit, have an adequate supply of personnel, water and equipment to control your burn. Do not leave it unattended until it is cold-to-the-touch. Never burn more than you can adequately handle and do not build piles near tall grass, overhanging trees, or near structures. Remember, you are responsible for your burn. Outdoor burning typically closes mid-summer when fire danger reaches moderate, so plan ahead and burn on a day with safe weather conditions.
To learn more about outdoor burning seasons, permits, and safe burning tips, visit MissoulaPublicHealth.org/Environment/Air/Air-Quality-Outdoor-Burning/ or visit MCFPA.org and follow the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA) Facebook page.