If you live in Montana, you are familiar with the four seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Fire Season.
This year’s hot and dry conditions are setting the stage for a devastating Fire Season. Fires are popping up all over the state, with over 250,000 acres of wildfire threatening our resources and our homes. Fire suppression efforts costs run from $1-2 billion a year in the United States.
Tens of thousands of Montanans live in rural areas, enjoying the beauty of Montana’s natural habitat. But with this beauty comes risk, and it is important for those living in high-risk areas to be prepared. We’ve prepared a comprehensive list of steps you can take to help prepare your home and family for a wildfire, in the hopes that you never have to use them.
During Construction
If you are building your home now, you’re in luck! This is the best time to take some of the most crucial steps in creating a fire-defensible home. Read more…
Landscaping
Proper landscaping is vital to creating a fire defensible space around your home, barn, and other structures. A well-maintained defensible space can slow and sometimes even halt the progression of a wildfire, while helping provide a safer environment for firefighters. Read more…
Maintenance
You’ve taken all the important steps while building your home to create a fire defensible space. Now keep it up! Read more…
Preparation
An ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure, and this is especially true with fire preparation. Though having to evacuate your home is a dreadful prospect, approaching a possible evacuation notice with an emergency action plan and supply kit in place can help to reduce the stress of a terrible situation. Read more…
Imminent Danger
If there is a wildfire in your area, it is important to keep informed. Keep on top of fire status and evacuation notices. If time permits, there are several other steps you can take to protect your home in case of possible evacuation. Read more...
Trapped!
If you have kept informed and prepared for an evacuation, hopefully you will have no need for this information. But in the worst case scenario, here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of survival. Read more…