Reduce Your Wildfire Risk
Fire is a part of Montana. That means that we, as Montanas, must learn how to live with fire. When landowners take personal responsibility for applying and maintaining wildfire risk reduction practices on their property, they greatly increase the chances of their homes surviving a wildfire. Forests can be more resilient to fire by thinning to reduce fuels, restoring an open forest structure, and where feasible, returning fire to the landscape.
Below are resources to get you started on preparing for wildfires and reducing your wildfire risk.
Getting Started with Reducing Your Wildfire Risk
Watch the Wildfire Risk Home Assessment video for guidance on actions you can take to reduce wildfire risk in your home ignition zone (HIZ).
View Oregon State University Extension Forestry's video on treatments to consider to make your forest more resilient to wildfire.
Reducing Risk Around Your Home
Reducing Risk in Your Forest
Assistance with Reducing Your Wildfire Risk
Technical Assistance
Through MSU Extension Forestry Stewardship Workshops, natural resource professionals can assist you with incorporating wildfire risk reduction treatments on your property alongside your other management activities.
Your local DNRC Service Forester can provide management recommendations and share resources on how to reduce wildfire risk around your home or in your forest.
You can hire a consulting forester to develop a plan to decrease wildfire risk in your forest while integrating other forest management objectives you have for your land. Montana DNRC maintains a Directory of Consulting Foresters for the state of Montana.
View the DNRC Directory of Consulting Foresters
For recommendations on how to better prepare your home for wildfire, request a free wildfire risk assessment. A local fire professional will contact you to schedule a visit.
Financial Assistance
The Montana DNRC Stewardship Program delivers financial assistance to help private forest landowners manage wildfire risk on their forest land through regional partnerships with organizations and local governments. View local partners with funding opportunities in your area by visiting the Montana DNRC Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program - Partner Map.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers financial assistance for conservation practices, such as forest health improvements, in targeted areas through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP). You can view current funding opportunities by county on their website.