Fire in Lewis & Clark County
Lewis & Clark County has experienced many fires in the past and will likely continue to do so in the future. After the 1910 “Big Burn,” policies of fire suppression in the Northwest led to an overgrowth of fuels that are beyond what humans can manage, especially in National Forests and Wilderness Areas.
The buildup of fuels becomes an even bigger problem as subdivisions and other developments occur in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). This increases the risk of losing homes and lives and makes it essential to fight fires, leading to skyrocketing firefighting costs.
The Conservation District has been involved in post-fire rehabilitation projects for decades and will likely continue as capacity allows. Here is some basic information and links to resources developed by other organizations to help landowners prepare their property for fire season and assist them after fires, whether on or near their property.
Understanding the Wildfire Risk
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
- What is a WUI? The WUI is the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. It is the line, area or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.
- Increased Risk: Development in WUI areas heightens the risk of fire damage to homes and infrastructure. This also leads to higher firefighting costs and the necessity to protect these developments, as well as increased home insurance costs.
Preparation and Prevention
Fuel Reduction Strategies
- Defensible Space: Create a buffer zone by clearing vegetation around structures. This reduces the chance of fire spreading to homes.
- Prescribed Burns: Controlled burns can help reduce excess fuels in forests and other areas.
- Thinning: Removing smaller trees and underbrush to decrease fuel loads.
Home Protection
- Fire-Resistant Building Materials: Use materials that are less likely to ignite.
- Firebreaks: Construct barriers to slow the spread of fire.
- Emergency Plans: Develop and practice evacuation plans.
Post-Fire Rehabilitation
Immediate Actions
- Erosion Control: Implement measures such as mulching, seeding, and installing barriers to prevent soil erosion after a fire.
- Water Quality Protection: Protect water sources from contamination by fire-related debris.
Long-Term Recovery
- Invasive Species: Following wildfire, it’s very common for invasive weeds to increase and for new species to move into an area.
- Replanting Native Vegetation: Restore the natural habitat by planting native species that are adapted to the local environment.
- Soil Restoration: Use techniques to rebuild soil health and structure.
Available Resources
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): The NRCS Helena Field Office has several programs that can help private landowners prepare for fire with fuel reduction and defensible space. They also have some helpful handouts for landowners following a fire.
- USDA Forest Service: Offers information on fire management, wildland fires and resilience tips.
- Tri-County Fire Safe Working Group: Engages property owners about co-existing with and surviving wildfire. Their programs and activities are designed to help property owners reduce fire risks to live more safely in a wildfire environment. Programs include outreach and education, private property wildfire risk assessments and risk reduction activities that target hazardous fuels removal and defensible space improvements on private lands and structures. The organization consists of a broad spectrum of stakeholders including federal and state land managers and wildfire officials, county, and city government as well as private citizens and contractors.
- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC): Offers information on forest management and fire prevention and preparedness.
- Montana State University Extension: For information on Weeds after Wildfire
Some other resources:
https://www.mtfireinfo.org/pages/prevention
