Six Simple Ways to Prepare for Wildfire Season

We love Montana. The mountains, rivers, lakes and forests are part of what makes life here so special. But living in a beautiful wild place also means being prepared for wildfire season.

Whether you rent an apartment or own a home, being prepared for an emergency can help protect what matters most to you. When every minute counts, having a plan in place can make all the difference.

I’m Alex Ramsing, Homeword’s homebuyer educator. In my role, helping people protect the investments they have worked so hard to make is very important to me. Wildfire preparedness is an important part of that, and it's something every Montanan should think about.

1. Track fires early and often

There are several apps and websites that can help you monitor fires near your home or anywhere you plan to travel. Watch Duty is my favorite because it can send notifications about nearby fires.

It is also smart to sign up for local emergency alerts and keep more than one source of information available, so you are not relying on a single app. Officials often recommend having multiple ways to receive warnings, including your phone and a battery-powered radio.

2. Create a defensible space around your home

One of the most important things you can do to protect your home is to create defensible space. Embers can travel well ahead of wildfire and ignite dry materials near or on your house. In Montana, guidance often emphasizes keeping the first 3-5 feet around your home as clean and noncombustible as possible. That means removing dead brush, dry leaves, pine needles, wood piles and anything else that could easily catch fire. Cleaning gutters, trimming overhanging branches and keeping vegetation maintained can also help reduce risk.

My wife and I have some large maple trees looming over our home. Once a year, I get up on the roof and sweep out the valleys. If you have the same issue and you can do so safely—

or hire someone who can—clear roof valleys and gutters once a year.

3. Review your insurance before fire season

Have you made changes to your home recently, built a fence, added a deck, remodeled a bathroom, or finished a basement? Keeping your insurance current matters year-round, but it becomes especially important in high-fire danger areas. Review your policy before wildfire season starts so you understand your coverage, replacement costs, deductibles and what documentation you may need if you ever must file a claim. It is also a good idea to keep a basic home inventory with photos or video.

4. Pack a go bag or a go bin

If conditions worsen quickly, you may receive an evacuation warning or order with only a short window to leave. In a stressful moment, it can be hard to think clearly, which is why preparing ahead matters. A go bag for each person or a larger go bin for shared household supplies can help you leave faster and with less panic.

What goes inside will look a little different for every household, but good basics include medications, water, nonperishable food, chargers, flashlights, extra clothes, toiletries, blankets, pet supplies and copies of important documents. A battery-powered radio can also be helpful during power outages. A simple rule of thumb is to think about what you would need to function for at least 72 hours away from home. Make sure you know how to use your gear and that you test it and resupply annually.

My new go-bag addition for the year was a rechargeable emergency radio. They can have a lot of bells and whistles, but I prefer to keep it simple. I don’t need a little solar panel or a flashlight, but I like to have the NOAA emergency radio frequencies and a hand crank. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.

5. Include pets in your emergency plan

It is easy to focus on paperwork and overlook the basics you use every day. Make sure your emergency plan includes leashes, carriers, pet food, medications and comfort items for animals.

6. Protect important documents

Keep your most important documents organized in one place so they are easy to grab if you need to leave quickly. IDs, insurance information, medical information, financial records, property records and anything else that would be difficult to replace. Even a simple folder or portable file box can save time and stress during an evacuation.

If you are away from home when an evacuation order is issued, digital backups can be a lifesaver. Store copies of important documents in a secure cloud account or on a password-protected drive. If the worst happens, having records can make recovery much easier.

No one wants to imagine wildfire affecting their home or neighborhood, but taking a few simple steps now can protect your property, reduce stress and help you act quickly if conditions change.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with one step today: sign up for alerts, start a go bag or review your insurance coverage. These small actions could make a big difference later.

Interested in learning more about buying, owning and protecting a home in Montana? Homeword's homeownership classes provide practical information to help you prepare for one of life's biggest investments. We'd love to see you in class. I’d love to see you in class! You can find out more by visiting our website.