Wildfire season in Montana can run from early summer into fall. When a fire threatens homes, the decision to evacuate is made by local officials, usually the county sheriff and emergency management, working with fire managers.
The levels
Many Montana jurisdictions use the national Ready, Set, Go! framework:
– Ready: be aware of fire danger, make a plan and prepare a go-bag.
– Set: be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. People who need extra time, and anyone with livestock, should consider leaving now.
– Go: leave immediately. Follow the routes officials give you.
Wording varies by county, so learn your county’s terms.
Where alerts come from
- County emergency-management alert systems. Sign up through your county’s website.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone.
- InciWeb and the Montana DNRC fire information pages for incident updates.
Prepare now
Keep a go-bag with medications, documents, chargers and water. Plan for pets and livestock. Make your home more fire-resistant by clearing flammable material within the first few feet of the house.
For more background, see our explainers on how drought is measured in Montana, checking Montana winter road conditions, and staying safe in grizzly country. Find more stories in our News section.
Sources
- Ready, Set, Go! program (IAFC): https://wildlandfirersg.org/
- Montana DNRC Fire Information: https://dnrc.mt.gov/Forestry/Fire
- InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/