Wildfires are a persistent and evolving threat across the west, and Gallatin County is no exception. With a rapidly expanding population, diverse ecosystems, and a history of wildfire, we face challenges that require community engagement, and active mitigation efforts by property owners and agencies. Effective and sustainable wildfire mitigation requires that we know and understand our risk. The website wildfirerisk.org compiles nationally consistent data to help communities understand their risk and plan for mitigation efforts across the nation. Here is how we stack up:

Gallatin County has a HIGH risk of wildfire.
Higher than 82% of counties in the U.S.

Bozeman & West Yellowstone have a HIGH risk of wildfire.
Higher than 73% of communities in the U.S.

Belgrade has a MEDIUM risk of wildfire.
Higher than 47% of communities in the U.S.

Big Sky has a VERY HIGH risk of wildfire
Higher than 96% of communities in the U.S.

We need to consider the impacts of historical fire patterns, environmental conditions, and risk factors in order to implement effective mitigation strategies to reduce our vulnerability. Gallatin County has a long history of wildfire. From small, localized fires to larger, landscape scale events that have affected our forests and one of our neighborhoods. In 2020, the Bridger Foothills Fire burned 8,224 acres, 30 outbuildings and 31 homes. From 2001-2014 the Purdy, Fridley, Flaming Arrow, Millie, Cottonwood Gulch and Horseshoe fires burned over 42,000 acres. In the period from 2015-2025 over 76,000 acres have burned—a 66% increase. 

Molly Ogle

Wildfire risk is influenced by local climate, topography, and vegetation. With drier summers, low humidity, and periods of high wind, fire ignition potential and rapid spread increases. In Gallatin Valley, the prevailing wind pattern is from west-southwest, which warms and dries those aspects, ripening them for ignition. Wildfire severity has also increased due to the focus on suppression, leading to over-stocked forests, closed canopies, and abundant ladder fuels which feed high intensity, catastrophic wildfires. This vegetation is the critical factor increasing the likelihood and intensity of wildfire. Forested lands in the county include a mixture of conifers, including lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, sub-alpine fir, aspen and cottonwood, along with abundant grasslands in the valleys. The flammability of vegetation varies, with conifers providing both ladder fuels and dense canopy cover, increasing the likelihood of unstoppable crown fires. Grasslands, on the other hand, ignite easily, and generally have a lower flame intensity, but can quickly coax a fire toward our homes. It is important to understand that our homes and outbuildings are also fuel for a growing wildfire.

It is no secret that Bozeman, Big Sky and the rest of Gallatin County have seen rapid growth in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), defined as the transition zone where human development intermingles with vegetative or wildland fuels. The county encompasses nearly 1.7 million acres of land, 1.1 million acres of which lie within the WUI. Currently, over 30,000 homes are in the WUI and at risk of being affected by wildfire. Research shows that during a wildfire, most homes are ignited by flying embers- small pieces of burning material carried by the wind can travel miles ahead of the main fire, landing in leaf-clogged gutters, unscreened attic vents, flammable landscaping materials and vegetation in the three Home Ignition Zones (HIZ’s) listed below:

• Zone 1 The Immediate Zone (0–5 ft): This zone is critical and ideally free of any flammable material. It is also important that no vegetation is in direct contact with the structure.
• Zone 2 The Intermediated Zone (5-30 ft): This is the “lean, clean, and green” zone, with trees spaced to prevent crown-to-crown fire spread and with well-irrigated lawns that can stop a fire.
• Zone 3 The Extended Zone (30–100+ ft):  In this zone, tree density reduced and “ladder fuels” removed to keep fire out of the canopy and reduce the intensity as it approaches.

Gallatin County Emergency Management has cost-share grant opportunities to help residents reduce their wildfire risk by providing FREE home risk assessments and financial support. During an assessment, staff will meet you at your property to discuss property location, building materials and risks within the three Home Ignition Zones. This funding reduces the cost of wildfire mitigation work, and the Gallatin County Saddle Peak Fuels Module can work at low, or no cost to property owners. Cost-share opportunities are also available for larger, forested areas outside of the HIZ. Healthy, fire-resilient forests are critical to the safety of our community, reducing the likelihood of catastrophic crown fires and widespread ember showers. Creating defensible spaces and thinning forest areas creates resilient properties that give firefighters a safer place to work. The wildfire mitigation program also has a self-assessment tool to help homeowners understand their strengths and vulnerabilities, and provides detailed recommendations for their property.

The Gallatin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) outlines an action plan for treating hazardous fuels in the WUI. Coordination among local fire departments, federal and state agencies, and private landowners maximizes mitigation efforts and helps to ensure ecological sustainability through workshops, risk mapping reviews, and alignment of priorities. Modern simulation and mapping in the CWPP provide a look into the relative hazard across the county. This includes burn probability, ember cast modeling, potential flame length analysis, and hazard rankings that show areas of elevated risk (where higher intensity fires can occur), and regions with extensive development in the WUI. These models help prioritize fuel reduction projects and emergency preparedness efforts.

The CWPP framework emphasizes early evacuation planning, awareness campaigns, emergency notifications, and coordinated fire response. Public education and engagement encourages residents to understand the risks, prepare emergency kits, and find safe evacuation routes, which are crucial in preventing loss of life during wildfire.

Surprisingly, 97% of wildfires in the WUI are caused by humans. Abandoned recreational fires, equipment sparks, and other accidental sources contribute to this. The combination of human activity, flammable vegetation, and variable weather conditions enhances the likelihood of a fire where we live, work and play. Effective land use planning can also play a role in managing our wildfire risk. Zoning regulations, open-space preservation, and development standards—such as building setbacks, multiple access roads, and water infrastructure provisioning—can help shape resilient communities. Home building in high-risk zones should guide planning efforts before construction begins. In the county, rapid population growth and scenic development opportunities continue to drive WUI expansion, emphasizing the need for policy that balances growth with safety.

Mitigating wildfire risk requires collaboration between residents, community organizations, and government agencies at all levels. To support this, the Fire Adapted Gallatin Working Group was created to foster dialogue between the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and local fire departments. They meet to discuss cross-boundary management plans in forest management and WUI development. Participation of volunteer and professional fire response promotes cooperation while fighting wildland fires.

Considering long-term resilience and sustainability encourages adaptive planning and continuous engagement to fight the challenges of wildfire. While the risks are significant, coordinated mitigation efforts, community education, and strategic planning will lead to a sustainable relationship with the natural benefits of fire. Ongoing collaboration between residents, local authorities, and federal and state agencies ensures that our region develops strategies that reduce loss of life, protects property, and supports the ecological integrity of our landscape. To learn more about protecting our community, mitigating the risk to your home, and using one of the grant programs, reach out to Gallatin County Emergency Management at www.readygallatin.com/mitigation. In Big Sky, contact bigskyfire.org   

For more information visit:
• www.wildfirerisk.org
• headwaterseconomics.org
• ibhs.org
• (YouTube) has extensive videos of how wildfire affects homes.

Jay Pape is the Preparedness & Mitigation Manager for Gallatin County.