Homeowners should plan ahead for wildfire season
With all the green foliage that marks springtime in the Flathead, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that wildfire season will soon be here.
As most Montanans know, wildfires are part of living in such a beautifully forested area. By taking a few simple, and reasonably inexpensive, steps like reducing hazardous fuels to create what is known as “survivable space” around their homes, homeowners and communities can significantly reduce the risks that wildfires pose to them. This work also helps to create a safer work place for firefighters in the event they’re called upon.
When neighbors work together to create a fire adapted community the benefits multiply significantly. Planning and cooperative actions are critical to success.
Unfortunately, there are only so many resources available in the event of a major fire. Firefighters must do the best they can with what they have, and homeowners’ fuels reductions can significantly help firefighters work safely.
“During a major wildfire event, there are simply not enough fire trucks to defend all of the homes that will need to be defended,” says Lincoln Chute, Flathead County Fire Warden. “It’s a homeowner’s responsibility to be prepared for wildfires, and to reduce fuels around their home (and within their communities) so that firefighters’ lives are not put at undue risk.”
Evacuation plans are also critical. The state DNRC Ready-Set-Go program and pamphlet provide an excellent description of steps to take before and during an evacuation. Before moving here, Whitefish Fire Department Chief Joe Page was a Colorado firefighter where he personally witnessed the chaos that results when people wait too long before evacuating; and he feels strongly about it.
“The big message I’d like to get out is, plan now and decide what to take and write it down, because in a stressful situation people don’t always make the best decisions,” Page said.
Chief Page also suggests that homeowners ask themselves:
1. What do I pack if I have a few days before I might have to evacuate?
2. What do I pack if I have a few hours before I might have to evacuate?
3. What do I take if I have to leave now?”
Having an agreed upon meeting place is also important. Don’t forget to plan for your pets/livestock.
FireSafe Montana and the Whitefish Area Fire Safe Council are celebrating National Wildfire Preparedness Day with a community meeting on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake with experts talking about wildfire preparedness and evacuations.
To join, RSVP to wafiresc@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.firesafemt.org and www.firewise.org.
— Ed Lieser is a Whitefish legislator, current Fire Behavior Analyst on a National Incident Management Team, and on the board of the Whitefish Area Fire Safe Council. Mike Frost is on the boards of the Whitefish Area Fire Safe Council and FireSafe Montana.