Three federal grants stemming from the 2017 wildfire season in Missoula County will go far in helping land managers and property owners conduct fuel mitigation in the wildland urban interface.
But the grants also come with limitations issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Missoula County officials hope to bend the right ear in Washington, D.C., to expand the options, including those related to burning slash.
Adrienne Beck, director of the county’s disaster and emergency services, said the county became eligible for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) after the 2017 fire season, which was one of the worst in state history.
The grants are awarded when certain conditions are met during large-scale fires that threaten communities or vital infrastructure. Each grant is worth around $420,000 for fuel or hazard mitigation work.