Stillwater County rescinds Stage I fire restrictions and adopts countywide evacuation plan

Stillwater County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 25 to rescind Stage I fire restrictions and to adopt a countywide base Evacuation Plan into the Emergency Operations Plan.

David Stamey of Disaster and Emergency Services recommended removing the Stage I fire restriction given current and predicted weather conditions; the board approved Resolution No. 2025-24, which rescinds Resolution No. 2025-19, on a 3-0 vote after Commissioner Jeff Ruffatto moved and Commissioner Roger Webb seconded the motion. The action removes the countywide Stage I limitation previously in effect.

Stamey told the commission the adopted Evacuation Plan is intended as a base document to be annexed to the Emergency Operations Plan and that the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Emergency Operations Center had reviewed roles and responsibilities. He said the base plan will be supplemented with addendums for high-risk sites and gave the example of fuel storage tanks in the City of Columbus off Diamond Street, which have specific evacuation planning needs. Stamey also said he and staff will work with the State Fire Marshal and Farmers Union on permitting and mitigation where fuel offloading is a concern.

Commission Chair Steve Riveland asked staff to ensure follow-up documentation. Riveland requested that Kisha Cornell draft the formal amendment resolution so the Evacuation Plan may be attached as an exhibit to the Emergency Operations Plan and so future site-specific evacuation plans can be added as additional exhibits.

The commission recorded no public comment on the items. The adoption of the base Evacuation Plan and the rescission of the Stage I restriction are intended to provide an updated operational framework; staff indicated they will complete addendums and coordinate with state partners for site-specific protocols.