United Way of Missoula County has teamed up with our community partner the Missoula County Office of Emergency Management to focus on reducing risk and catastrophic losses to resources and property on private land throughout Missoula County. This partnership provides homeowners the opportunity to reduce Home Ignition Zone vulnerabilities to wildfire through a cost-share program: Wildfire Ready Missoula. The homeowner pays the initial upfront cost of work, and is reimbursed for 50% - 75% (grant dependent) of the total labor cost incurred (homeowner in-kind match may apply, consult Missoula County Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator for more details).
Program steps
Receive a Free Wildfire Site Assessment. Call or email Missoula County Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator to schedule an assessment.
Work with Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator to develop a treatment plan and receive a list of certified contractors.
Agree to accomplish the recommended mitigation techniques and sign a cost-share agreement contract.
Schedule contractor for mitigation work on your property and pay upon project completion.
Receive a final assessment once work is completed and receive reimbursement within 15 business days (in-kind projects will require 1099 tax filing).
Homeowners are encouraged to maintain preparedness for future wildfire seasons.
Since 2019: More than 145 homeowners have taken advantage of the program, developing a more wildfire resilient community for generations of Missoulians to come.
Wildfires in Missoula County Wildfires can occur anywhere in the U.S., but are most common in the West due to the landscape’s natural relationship with fire. Recently, wildfire conditions in the West have become more extreme and destructive as a result of climate change and land development. Western Montana is a fire-prone landscape where it is not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN” a wildfire will occur, especially in Missoula County where populated areas have, on average, a greater wildfire risk than 96% of other U.S. counties.
Home Ignition Zone: Landowners are encouraged to create and maintain defensible space and utilize ignition resistant building materials to sustain a wildfire adapted home, property, and community. Priority for all project work will be focused on the home and/or structures and work outwards to extended priority areas.
This graphic shows the zone around your home that will be better wildfire prepared.
Own Your Zone (Home Hardening):
During a wildfire, embers can be carried by the wind from over a mile away. These embers can land on your roof, accumulate at the base of your walls, and infiltrate your home through vents and other openings. They can also ignite materials on or under decks. In fact, embers are responsible for 90% of homes destroyed by wildfire. "Owning Your Zone" is the process of making your existing home and out-buildings more wildfire resilient through home retrofitting and maintenance techniques.
This image outlines prioritized actions homeowners can take to make their homes more wild resilient.
Burn Permits:
Missoula County burn permit information can be found at Missoula County Fire Protection Association
Is your neighborhood interested in a community-driven chip-day project? For more information please contact Missoula County Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator at:
Even small wildfires can cause evacuations. It’s important to have a Go Bag prepared before wildfire season and keep it updated. Have the Go Bag prepared with at least 72 hours’ worth of supplies.
Fireline Podcast: Explore What Wildfire Means for the West, Our Planet and and our Way of Life
By just about every measure, wildfires are getting bigger, hotter and more devastating than we’ve ever seen before. But what all that fire means — and what to do about it — depends on who you ask.
Get a broader perspective on wildfires, our role in fueling and fighting them, and our reaction to them.
Fireline is a six-part series about what wildfire means for the West, our planet and our way of life. Listen now or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
