MISSOULA - Wildfire seasons are running longer and Missoula County’s population is growing.

Now, a new million-dollar grant will help officials prepare for the risk of wildfires, especially in neighborhoods like the Rattlesnake and Grant Creek. The grant totals roughly $1.3 million and will go towards the county’s wildfire planning program — Wildfire Adapted Missoula .

County officials are currently identifying high-risk neighborhoods and contacting homeowners to help them make their homes more fire resilient.

Officials say the grant will mainly allow them to increase the number of staff they have working on their long-range planning efforts. That includes not just increasing the fire resilience of homes, but also future developments.

“Figuring out how to reduce our exposure to wildf

See Full Page