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The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database, please complete the following form (MS Word). Return to your search results or Perform a new search Title: Bitterroot Valley, MT- Strategic Fire Plan Type: Regulatory Education Community Planning Jurisdiction: Multi-level State: Montana Program Description: Bitterroot Valley Community-Based Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation Plan This is a strategic plan which is founded on the National Fire Plan, and which will guide implementation, and the related 10-year Comprehensive Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Bitterroot Valley. Purpose The purpose of this plan is to position fire protection agencies, county leaders, rural communities, valley residents, and forest owners and managers to be better prepared to protect the County's residents and its natural resources from potentially devastating impacts of wildfire. Background Census data from 2000 established that Ravalli County is the fastest growing county in Montana. Many of the new homes in the County are being constructed in the wildland urban interface and as more people move into the interface, the potential impacts from wildland fires increase, as does the complexity of protection issues faced by fire protection agencies. Few areas in the West have been harder hit in recent years by catastrophic wildfire than the Bitterroot Valley. During the 2000 fire season, wildland fires burned over 356,000 acres of federal, state and private lands in and near Ravalli County. Private property losses were high, ranging in the millions of dollars. As a result of the heightened awareness of wildland fire related issues, the importance of this strategic plan was well recognized by people in the Bitterroot Valley. Plan Development Diverse groups of valley residents met repeatedly during the winter of 2002-2003 to brainstorm and prioritize potential actions to address the most pressing issues that affect the Valley's ability to reduce the risks associated with wildland fires. This plan is a cooperative effort of volunteer fire chiefs, county officials, conservationists, community-based non-profit organizations, realtors, tourism and industry leaders, federal and state land managers, business people and interested residents. Strategic Actions The Bitterroot Valley Community-Based Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation Plan reflects consensus among those who participated in its development. It is intended to be an adaptive document; one that will be updated annually or as needed, to reflect accomplishments and newly emerging needs and opportunities. The Strategic Actions identified in the plan fit into one or more of six primary areas of emphasis: Hazardous Fuels Treatment -- Treatment of hazardous fuels is one of the most proactive ways to reduce the potential impacts from wildland fire. Public Awareness and Engagement -- As residents' understanding of the risks associated with wildland fire increases, their interest in learning more about living in a fire-dependant ecosystem and actions that can be taken to reduce the risk to lives and property expands. Volunteer Fire Department Capacity -- Ravalli County has 12 Volunteer Fire Departments serving 13 Fire Districts. The goal of the plan is to improve the capability and area coverage of the Bitterroot Valley VFD's. Emergency Response, Communication & Coordination -- More than a dozen organizations and agencies can be involved in emergency responses in Ravalli County. The goal is to improve emergency response, communication and coordination between all organizations and agencies. Access -- Many homes/property in the wildland urban interface do not have ingress/egress suitable for fire protection vehicles. The goal is to improve this for fire protection agencies. Policy & Planning -- There is a critical need to ensure that issues relevant to community fire planning are visible and integrated in the various planning efforts occurring in the Bitterroot Valley. Contact Information For more information, contact Byron Bonney at the Bitterroot RC&D; office at (406) 363-1444 ext. 5 or by email at [email protected]. Or call Don Stadler at (406) 777-5461. The Bitterroot Valley Community-Based Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation Plan can be viewed and downloaded at the www.bitterrootfireplan.org website. The email address for comments or questions about the fire plan can be mailed to: [email protected]. Images: 1. 2.

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