TRI-COUNTY FIRESAFE WORKING GROUP NEWS RELEASE
Author: TRI-COUNTY FIRESAFE WORKING GROUP
IS YOUR PROPERTY AT RISK FROM WILDFIRE?
TRI-COUNTY FIRESAFE WORKING GROUP
Helena, MT March 10, 2023
Don’t let the snow fool you, spring is just around the corner and a great time to identify risks and prepare your property for wildfire season. The tri-county area continues to be challenged by significant environmental and development issues that result in elevated wildfire risk to properties, communities and infrastructure. Our ability to live more safely in a fire environment depends on pre-fire activities, beginning with understanding your risks.
“The most important person in protecting your life and property is not the firefighter, but you,” stated Rocky Infanger, Chief of the Wolf Creek-Craig Fire Department. “The pre-treatment of the home ignition zone is one of the most proactive ways a property owner can reduce potential loss of life and property in the event of a wildfire.”
Tri-county FireSafe Working (TCFSWG) group and local fire departments encourage property owners located in the wildland-urban interface of Lewis & Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater counties to sign-up and participate in a free wildfire risk assessment. TCFSWG in a non-profit organization that assists property owners in becoming better adapted to living in wildfire-prone areas. Their programs offer free wildfire risk assessments, technical assistance, and cost-share funding for mitigation projects to reduce hazardous fuels and other conditions that are susceptible to ignition. Assessments focus on the home ignition zone, including landscaping, home construction materials and vegetation. On larger properties, the assessments will include areas beyond 200’ of buildings to assess hazardous fuels, and property ingress/egress as well.
“On-site assessments provide valuable one-one education and are followed up with a recommendations plan that a property owner can use if they choose to move forward with a mitigation project,” stated TCFSWG Executive Director, Amy Teegarden. “We have funding available to assist property owners with the removal of hazardous vegetation, however completion of a risk assessment is required to be eligible for our cost-share program,” Risks from wildfire are commonly shared between neighbors, so adjoining property owners are encouraged to work together. To learn more about the program and to schedule a free assessment visit the TCFSWG webpage at https://www.tcfswg.org to apply.
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