Grant aims to assist Glacier Gateway communities protect against wildfire

Funding of $10 million is available to assist Glacier Gateway residents mitigate the risk of wildfire. 

Flathead Electric Cooperative, Montana West Economic Development and the Flathead National Forest are collaborating on the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.  

The funding will assist Columbia Falls, Coram, Hungry Horse, Martin City and West Glacier. All are identified as Wildland Urban Interface communities by the county.  

Residents can apply for assistance at dobusinessinmontana.com/forestry-assistance/ 

The project was collaboratively developed between FEC, MWED, and FNF as a result of relationships created through the Fire Safe Flathead group.  The FSF group was established to meet the local needs of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and has met monthly since 2016. 

MWED will work with interested landowners to complete property assessments, create defensible space around structures, and connect or expand fuel breaks.  

FEC’s vegetation management crews, including contract crews, will lead the five-year project and perform hazard tree removal and vegetation management along the utility right-of-way, in addition to creating roadway fuel breaks. FEC will also improve substation and electric infrastructure defensible space. The forest is supporting the efforts as part of its priority goal of nationally cohesive wildfire mitigation planning. 

Christy Cummings Dawson, president and CEO of MWED, said in addition to funding fuel reduction for 3,523 acres and enhancing safety, the project is dedicated to fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities.  

“Residents who receive grant funding for work to reduce their wildfire risk will also save money down the road, as maintenance will be more affordable and feasible for landowners in the future,” she said.  

Jason Williams, FEC chief operating officer, said safety is a priority for the electric co-op and the project fits with the co-op's Wildfire Mitigation Plan with strategies to reduce the risk of wildfire as part of the electric grid.   

"The [Wildfire Mitigation Plan] is updated each year as we work to reduce the chance of utility-caused wildfire,” Williams said in a release. “We’re reducing available fuel in our [right of ways], improving fuel breaks, and working with private property owners to help them do the same in the areas immediately adjacent to our power lines.” 

During the grant process, it was found that compared to other communities in the United States, Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram, West Glacier, and Columbia Falls face elevated wildfire hazard potential, according to Amanda Opp, the co-op's integrated services manager.  

“Important work needs to be done to reduce wildfire risk for these communities,” she said. “This project is also identified as a priority area in the Montana Forest Action Plan for wildfire risk, increasing the urgency.”  

After FEC became aware of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant, the co-op formed a partnership with MWED to support the organizations’ common goal of creating fire-adapted communities in alignment with Flathead County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Together, FEC and MWED were awarded funds for powerline vegetation management and private property fuel reduction, including thinning and fuel reduction along roadways and critical infrastructure. 

The collaboration helps improve local forest health and lowers risks of fire ignition due to trees contacting powerlines, notes Kira Powell, Flathead Forest spokesperson, and the forest service supports the partnership to mitigate wildfire risks across public and private lands.   

FEC crews work year-round to manage vegetation, trim trees, and maintain the electric distribution system.  

The grant puts $10 million into the community and helps all members of the cost because they all share the costs of mitigating wildfire risks, said Mark Johnson, FEC chief executive officer.  

To learn more about how to apply for Community Wildfire Defense Grant funds awarded to the Glacier Gateway area, visit flatheadelectric.com/cwdg.