Earth Day Reminder: As wildfire risk rises in Montana, mitigation starts at home

After a dry winter and below-average snowpack, experts warn this wildfire season could be more dangerous—here’s how homeowners can prepare.

Earth Day is often a time to appreciate the natural beauty of our planet. But this year, it also serves as a reminder of how vulnerable those landscapes can be, especially in Montana.

After a drier-than-average winter and below-normal snowpack, wildfire risk across the state is expected to increase. So how can homeowners prepare? Experts say it starts with fire mitigation.

Fire mitigation is the process of reducing fire hazards around your home. The goal is to slow the spread of wildfire and give firefighters a better chance to protect your property.

Wildfires typically move along the forest floor, burning through leaf litter, pine needles, cones, grasses, and shrubs... what experts call “duff.” That buildup of natural debris can act as fuel, allowing flames to intensify and spread more quickly.

Another key step is managing trees and vegetation near your home. Removing lower branches helps prevent fires from climbing into the tops of trees, a dangerous scenario known as a crown fire, which spreads rapidly and is much harder to control.

Footage from the 2013 Black Forest Fire in Colorado Springs shows how proper mitigation can make a difference, where firefighters were able to defend a home because surrounding fuels had been reduced, ultimately saving it from destruction.

In Montana, fire officials recommend beginning with a home risk assessment. Carmen Borchelt, a fire prevention specialist with the DNRC, says the service is free and tailored to each property.

“It’s a really great tool to better prepare homeowners for wildfire season. We come out and talk with you about things you can do around your house to mitigate your fire risk,” she said.

Basic fire mitigation steps include clearing debris around your home, along with spacing out trees and shrubs, and removing highly flammable vegetation. Carmen also says it's important to focus on the area closest to your home, especially within 5 feet, looking for anything that could easily ignite or trap embers.

She mentions commonly overlooked risks include debris in gutters, materials stored under decks, outdoor furniture and cushions, as well as coconut fiber doormats.

While wildfires have traditionally impacted rural areas the most, that risk is expanding. As more people move to Montana and build near open land, fires are increasingly threatening neighborhoods.

Katie Haider, Public Information Officer for the Lockwood Fire District, says “We have what’s called the wildland-urban interface, where homes and natural areas mix. Embers can travel miles, so even neighborhoods near grasslands or wooded areas are at risk."

Ultimately, fire mitigation can make a life-saving difference. By reducing fuels around your home, you’re not only protecting your property— you’re giving firefighters more time to respond and a safer environment to defend it when it matters most.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation offers a free at home risk assessment on its website.