United Way of Missoula County partners with the Missoula County Office of Emergency Management and its Wildfire Mitigation Program to help reduce wildfire risk and safeguard private property across the county. Through this partnership, homeowners can take proactive steps to address vulnerabilities within their Home Ignition Zones by participating in Wildfire Ready Missoula County—a cost-share initiative designed to strengthen community wide wildfire resilience. Once a project is approved by the County, both Missoula County and the participating landowner contribute to the cost by paying their respective shares directly to the contractor.
Program Steps
Receive a Free Wildfire Site Assessment. Call or email Missoula County Wildfire Mitigation Specialist to schedule an assessment.
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 and businesses 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 wildfire resilient.
Burn Permits:
If you are going to be burning vegetative debris, do so in a safe and responsible manner. Obtain a burn permit, know when, where and what you can burn. You must activate the burn permit the day you plan to burn.
Is your neighborhood interested in a community-driven chip-day project? For more information please contact Missoula County Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator at:
It is important to have an evacuation plan in place before a wildfire occurs. A thorough evacuation plan can save your life and should include: Several evacuation routes from your home. Teaching your children how to evacuate on their own. Establishing an emergency meeting place outside of the fire area. A central contact person. A plan for livestock and/or pets. Signing up for Smart911. A Go Bag!
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 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.
