FireSafe Flathead is a coordination group which promotes fire adapted communities and resilient landscapes in the Flathead area representing the DNRC, NRCS, Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, HOAs, private landowners, and more. FireSafe flathead has led coordination efforts between the Forest Service, State and Non-Federal partners, and private landowners within the project area, acting as a central hub for communication and has been key in project area selection.

The Connecting Fuels Treatments in the Salish Mountains and Whitefish range has taken place on the west side of the Flathead Valley over the past year. Treatments have occurred on federal and non-federal lands, now connecting over 20 miles of fuel breaks, and finishing two segments of road, providing fluid access for wildland firefighters and an additional evacuation for residents. In the last year, the Connecting Fuels Treatments in the Salish Mountains and Whitefish Range project have successfully treated a total of 3,465 acres. Additionally, in an agreement between the DNRC and Flathead County, 7 acres were thinned, piled, and burned at county owned Heron Park as a forest management demonstration.

On our tour, we will primarily be visiting treatments on Forest Service lands just a few miles west of Kalispell and Whitefish, though during the tour we will be discussing the complexities, process, and lessons learned while working with landowners across public and private ownerships. When registering, please include what you would like to hear more about during our field tour.

The tour will be facilitated by Mike West, District Asst. Fire Management Officer of the Flathead National Forest.