Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and the governors of 10 other western states have proclaimed May as Wildfire Awareness Month.
“Spring is an ideal time to raise awareness about how we can all help improve our communities wildfire preparedness and learn what risk reduction steps we can take to prepare our families and properties for wildfire,” states a news release from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
According to the news release, ways to prevent and prepare for wildfires include cleaning out gutters, roofs and other areas where debris has settled; avoiding burning on windy days and never leaving a burn pile unattended; and keeping the space around homes — known as the home ignition zone — clear of dense vegetation.
“Even if you live within the City of Boulder, you still have the threat of wildfire,” Bull Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Chief Cory Hirsch said by email. “Please remember our resources are very limited in the event of a large wildfire. It is very unlikely there will be anyone protecting your home if and when a large wildfire passes by it.”
Kirsch said to stop by the fire department or contact a volunteer member with any questions or for help in wildfire protection planning.
Doug Dodge, director of the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Services, provided the following guidelines wildfire safety guidelines:
First, the wildland fuel around your home needs to be reduced to decrease the intensity of any wildfire that may approach. Those fuels reductions can be divided into three separate zones. Within 30 feet of your home is the intensive fuel reduction zone, wherein flammable materials and vegetation should be removed and replaced with non-flammable materials and vegetation. Zone 2, out to at least 100 feet (or more, depending upon slope) should consist of modifying vegetation to remove dead or dying vegetation, to increase the space around healthy vegetation canopies (at least 10’), and to remove lower branches (ladder fuels) that could spread fires into the forest canopy. Zone 3, out to at least 200 feet of your home, should also include thinning and the removal of most dead and dying vegetation.
Second, residents must prepare their homes to survive a wildfire. Most homes that are destroyed in wildfires are lost due to the accumulating embers that the fire produces (the ember shower), not necessarily the typically pictured wall of flames. Embers from a wildfire can travel far ahead of a fire, igniting structures that one may think may not be at risk because they are located in town. Small changes to your home, however, can make it significantly more likely to survive. Those changes include adding 1/8” metal screens over vent openings , removing stacked firewood up against a structure (firewood should be stored at least 30’ from your home), keeping gutters clean, removing flammable materials under decks, replacing flammable mulch with non-flammable materials, and in the event of a fire, removing things like your front door mat and outdoor furniture cushions that could catch fire. Our volunteers will do everything they can to safely stop a wildfire, but every individual must also do their part to give those efforts a chance for success.
Third, citizens need to know where to get emergency information. Jefferson County has several ways to notify residents of an emergency. Those include the County’s low power FM radio stations, the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, and the Sheriff’s office reverse notification system. It is critical to sign up for the reverse notification system by submitting your phone numbers via the “sign up for emergency notifications” link on the County website at www.jeffersoncounty-mt.gov, under the quick links. Wildfires, like many emergencies, can be chaotic in the first several hours, so it’s important to know where to go to get accurate information using the above listed tools.
Finally, you and your family should have, and practice, an evacuation plan so you and your loved ones know what to do in the event of a wildfire. Many fire fatalities occur during the evacuation process, mostly among the population that decides to leave too late. Smoke from a wildfire can darken the brightest day, making travel, even in familiar areas, almost impossible. Add to that the increased flow of traffic, and the incoming emergency response resources, and there is a real recipe for disaster. The best solution is to leave early, and to know what to take with you if you do need to go. Have a kit ready that includes your medication and important documents, and don’t forget the needs of your pets. It is also important to map your neighborhood, or to understand who, of those living around you, may need help getting out in the event of an emergency.
More complete information, including on site home ignition zone assessments and fuels reduction grant opportunities, can be obtained through your local fire department or through the Jefferson County Office of Disaster and Emergency Services at 406-225-4035. Online tools for more information can be obtained through FireSafe Montana (www.firesafemt.org).
