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Forests and Rangelands Success Story

Central Montana Community Gets Defensible Space Program Rolling with Community Assistance Funds
Bureau of Land Management, Central Montana Fire Zone, Montana
National Fire Plan - Community Assistance
2008

View of one property before treatment.
View of one property before treatment. Photo by Chris Croff.

View of same property after treatment.
View of same property after treatment. Photo by Chris Croff.

For several years, homeowner Chris Croff had seen a need to help his community become more defensible from wildfire, but did not know where to start. Luckily, the BLM was there to help! Chris lives and works in Monarch, Montana, a close-knit community located in the Little Belt Mountains approximately 46 miles southeast of Great Falls, Montana.

In June of 2008, the Monarch Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD), with the help of volunteer firefighter Chris Croff, applied for and received community assistance funding from the BLM’s Central Montana Fire Zone. In reading MVFD’s application for Community Assistance funding, BLM fire mitigation and education specialist, Karly Krausz, also felt the need to help this community.

Upon notification that they had received funding from BLM, Croff and MVFD sent out mailings and began going door-to-door with brochures and pamphlets, trying to educate homeowners on defensible space and the cost-share agreement that could help them gain defensible space around their homes. The group also completed home evaluations to help homeowners understand the work that needed to be done.

To date, three properties in Monarch have been treated and now have an acceptable amount of defensible space. Several other residents have expressed interest in getting help. Work will continue this spring and summer when the contractor can access the sites.

For more information, please contact Karly Krausz, Fire Mitigation & Education Specialist at 406-538-1977 or email: kkrausz@blm.gov.