Wildfire Preparedness

Preparing for Wildfires

To ensure you are properly prepared for a wildfire, you can schedule a free wildfire risk assessment at your home with a local Missoula County Fire Association professional.

Photo of a wildfire getting dangerously close to a home

Prepare Before Wildfires

The How to Prepare Your Home for Wildfires PDF provides insights and instruction on vegetation management, fire resistive construction, and the things you can do to be better prepared. Use it as a teaching tool and distribute it in your community

Photo of the lolo complex fire crossing highway 12

Stay Safe During Wildfires

Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn in natural areas like forests, grasslands or prairies. These dangerous fires spread quickly and can devastate not only wildlife and natural areas, but also communities. Learn how to stay safe during wildfires by reviewing the Missoula County Wildfire Prep Guide below.

Sign up for Smart 911 and be sure to update your profile annually to receive critical emergency alerts.

Photo of a road crew cutting down dry and/or dead trees and tree branches

After a Wildfire

Returning Home After a Wildfire

  • Check with fire officials before attempting to return to your home.
  • Use caution when re-entering a burned area – flare ups can occur.
  • Check grounds for hot spots, smoldering stumps and vegetation. Use your buckets of water.
  • Check the roof and exterior areas for sparks and embers.
  • Check the attic and throughout the house for hidden burning, sparks and embers.
  • Continue to check for problem areas for several days.
  • Contact 911 if any danger is perceived.

Firewise USA Program

About Firewise USA


Brush, grass, and forest fires don’t have to be disasters. National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA)  Firewise USA Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes from the risk of wildfire. Firewise is a key component of Fire Adapted Communities- a collaborative approach that connects all those who play a role in wildfire education, planning and action with comprehensive resources to help reduce risk. The program is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the US Department of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters. To save lives ad property from wildfire NFPA’s Firewise USA program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and each other from the risk of wildfire.

Learn More

Mitigation Programs

There are organizations throughout Missoula County that offer financial and technical services for homeowners wanting to mitigate their property’s wildfire risk. These organizations may be able to offer grant money to homeowners to assist with reducing vegetation. Oftentimes, the grant will cover 50-75% of the overall project cost for reducing the vegetation.

Natural Resource Conservation Service

The Natural Resource Conservation Service also offers grant opportunities to landowners for forest management throughout Missoula and Mineral Counties.

Seeley Lake Montana

For homeowners in Seeley Lake area

For homeowners across Missoula County.

Wildfire Ready Missoula County is a program coordinated between Missoula County and United Way. The program has grant funding available to homeowners within Missoula, Bonner-West Riverside, Potomac, Greenough, Seeley Lake, Clinton, and Turah.

For homeowners in Western Missoula County, including Ninemile, Frenchtown, Clinton, Missoula area, Bonner, Lolo

For homeowners in the Blackfoot watershed

For homeowners in the Condon area

For homeowners within Missoula Rural Fire District’s Jurisdiction

For homeowners within Frenchtown Rural Fire District’s Jurisdiction