Montanans are well aware of the risk wildfires present to their property and understand how wildfire-ready decisions protect both communities and the land. In this edition of Forest to Frontier, Becky Hillier speaks with Justin Russell, Emergency Management Director for Disaster and Emergency Services in Musselshell County, about wildfire risk and defensible space—and what homeowners can do now to safeguard their property.
Wildfires spread fastest when fuel is continuous and easy to ignite. That’s why fuel mitigation matters: removing combustible materials can slow or stop a fast-moving wildfire from threatening your home. While forest and logging practices work at the landscape level, homeowners play an essential role in creating survivable space around their structures.
Forest Health & Responsible Fuel Mitigation
The same principles behind healthy forests—reducing hazardous buildup—apply to how homes are prepared for fire season. Aim to establish a 100-foot defensible space zone around your home. Within that area, clear debris and reduce vegetation that can carry embers or flames toward your property.
Next, focus on the immediate perimeter. Create a 5-foot exclusion zone around the foundation and avoid materials that can easily ignite. Replace bushes and other ember-holding foliage with decorative rock or non-ember-holding materials that reduce ignition risk.
Wildfire Risk: Defensible Space You Can Build
If you have trees on your property, prioritize limbing up—removing lower hanging limbs that could ignite from ground flames traveling through ground cover. This helps prevent ground fire from reaching the canopy, reducing the chance of rapid fire spread.
Finally, manage burn piles carefully. Russell notes that burn piles are a common cause of spring fires because they can hold embers and smolder for extended periods—up to a month. Check burn piles frequently to confirm they remain fully extinguished and do not pose ongoing risk.
To summarize the key takeaways for wildfire preparedness on your property:
Target 100-foot defensible spaceCreate a 5-foot exclusion zone at the foundationRemove/replace ember-carrying vegetationLimb up to reduce canopy ignitionManage burn piles (embers can smolder—check often)
Watch this month’s full episode of Forest to Frontier for real examples of defensible space and exclusion zones that homeowners can apply.