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Whitefish schedules March work session on emergency preparedness and wildfire mitigation; county asked to attend
Summary
Council members agreed to a March work session on emergency preparedness with the fire department, DNRC and Flathead County officials; the session will address evacuation planning, mitigation and potential satellite fire station locations.
The Whitefish City Council discussed emergency preparedness and wildfire mitigation and directed staff to schedule a March work session that will include fire department officials, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and Flathead County representatives to discuss evacuation planning, mitigation and response.
City staff said they had requested county attendance because any evacuations in the area would be managed by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. Staff noted that the Wisconsin Avenue corridor plan identifies a secondary fire station — a smaller facility with an engine and staffing — as a possible future resource but that prior developer proposals for a satellite station did not proceed.
Council members said they want the work session to provide detailed information about current mitigation and response plans, and to include planning‑board and community‑development board discussion of hazard elements for the city’s growth policy. Staff said a presentation at the March work session should allow county and state partners to share mitigation activities and for the council to understand evacuation and response responsibilities beyond city limits.
The council asked staff to continue outreach to affected neighborhoods and to incorporate wildfire mitigation and evacuation planning into upcoming board meetings and the new growth policy process. No formal vote was required; the council scheduled the work session and requested relevant agencies attend.
