No Campfires in Montana? No Problem

We are a little more than a week into August, and it is dangerously dry everywhere in Montana. The extreme fire danger has got a lot of summertime activities to shut down. Yes, you can still go camping. But, don't plan on cooking s'mores.

Much of Northwest Montana is in stage 2 fire restrictions. The following are prohibited.

Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire.
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails.
The following acts are prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.:

Operating any internal combustion engine.
Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
Using an explosive.

So, what if you had that big camping trip planned? Well, clearly you cannot have a campfire. If you are busted breaking any of the stage 2 restrictions, you could face a fine up to $5,000 and 6 months in prison. Plus, you would get stuck with the bill, if your actions result in a wildfire.

Thankfully, some Floridians recently shared a great campfire hack that Montana campers may have to try. With the ongoing heat of summer, what better way to enjoy the day, than next to an ice-cold fire? Simply replace firewood with dry ice. And, replace roasted marshmallows with popsicles. Boom! You got yourself an ice-cold campfire.

WARNING! DRY ICE IS DANGEROUSLY COLD. ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED.