Presentation Friday focuses on Megafires

The City of Whitefish Fire Department and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation are holding a presentation on Friday, June 14, about the Era of Megafires and how fire has and will continue to affect Whitefish.

This engaging one-hour film and discussion will cover the threat of fires in the community, and how to prepare families and homes for wildfire. Representatives from the Fire Department and the DNRC will present information and answer questions. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers on the Second floor of City Hall at 418 E. 2nd Street.

The presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Extreme fire danger is the new norm for summers in Glacier Country and across much of the West. Glacier National Park has experienced major fires, including the loss of structures, during three of the last four years. Wildfire is no longer restricted to rural, forested areas — wildfire has razed thousands of homes in urban areas across the West over the past year. Flathead communities have been fortunate to avoid catastrophic wildfire on their doorsteps so far, but that luck may not last, according to fire officials.

The 2017 Montana Climate Assessment highlighted the likelihood of future summers that are much hotter and drier than in the past, and these anticipated “flash droughts” could lead to a future of even more extreme fire danger in the Flathead.

For more information contact the Whitefish Fire Department at (406) 863-2842.