Dear Bitterroot Valley Neighbor, February 19, 2010
Over the past two decades in the Bitterroot Valley, several large wildfires have burned either into the wildland urban interface from surrounding public lands, or from private lands onto public lands. Some were human-caused and some were lightning caused, but all of them have impacted the community. Considering the changes we have seen in our climate over the past few decades, and given that the forests are fire-dependent, wildfire will continue to shape the ecosystems in which we live. In responding to this eventuality, the Stevensville Ranger District, in cooperation with its local partners, is developing a Wildfire Response Guide. This guide is designed to help firefighting agencies, land owners and other emergency responders better prepare for future wildfires. Based on county records, you have been identified as a property owner in the project area. We are asking you to join us and participate in the development of this guide.
You can be involved in a variety of ways – by preparing a self or assisted assessment of your property’s fuels and hazard risk, engaging in on-line discussions, or simply receiving status updates as the guide develops. All of the guide components will be posted on a special web site devoted to the project. Please see the attached “Question and Answer” document for further information about the website.
You are also welcome to call or visit us if you are not comfortable using the internet. Working with us in developing the guide are the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Bitterroot Resource Conservation and Development, Ravalli County Department of Emergency Services, and the Florence, Stevensville, and Victor Volunteer Fire Departments. The guide includes the interface area between public and private lands along the west side of the valley from Big Creek north to the Missoula County line. We will learn from this project and hope its successes will lead to similar plans for the rest of the valley.
This map outlines the project area and the four zones being utilized for data collection. The study area used by the University of Montana student is also identified on the map. The shaded areas represent areas of past treatment from 1990 to present on the Forest Service, State, and Private lands as well as areas that have been affected by wildfire.
Please see the attached outline and Q and A page for more information and further explanation why a response guide is needed and the kinds of information the guide will likely contain. Most importantly, it describes several ways that you can be involved as the guide is developed. Your ideas and comments are important and will help in the development of this guide. We hope you will take the time to become involved.
Dan Ritter – Stevensville District Ranger
Tom Dobberstein – Victor Rural Fire Chief
Brad Lord – Stevensville Rural Fire Chief
Charlie Lambson – Florence Rural Fire Chief
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