Wildfire Preparedness

Community Forum Helps Residents Learn About Fire Safety

On November 14, 2019 Flathead Valley residents gathered at Whitefish City Hall to hear from fire experts on the dangers of living at the urban-wildland interface and what individuals can do to protect their homes from wildfire. Speakers included:

• Bambi Goodman from the Whitefish Area Fire Safe Council
• Ed Lieser, Fire Behavior Specialist
• Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park Superintendent
• Joe Page, Whitefish Fire Chief
• Richard Hildner, former Smoke Jumper and Fire Behavior Analyst and current Whitefish City Councilor
• Rick Trembath, retired Bigfork Fire Chief and Fire Historian

View the video from the 2017 Whitefish Fire Forum

Fire Danger

Extreme fire danger is the new norm for summers in Glacier Country. The recent fires in California have proven the risk of living in communities unprepared for fire, as we do here in Montana. Wildfire is no longer restricted to rural, forested areas like Glacier National Park-instead, it has razed thousands of homes in urban areas across the West. 

Properly preparing can go a long way towards lessening the severity of a blaze, and interested Whitefish residents can visit the link on our home page to learn more about fire safety and access fire resources courtesy of the Whitefish Fire Department. The event was organized by Climate Smart Glacier Country and sponsored by the City of Whitefish and Fire Safe Flathead.