Missoula County Office of Emergency Management staff and local partners urged homeowners to focus on small, practical changes close to the house to reduce the risk of ember-driven loss in a wildfire.

"A home ignition zone or H I Z ... explains 3 different zones," said Olivia Anderson, Missoula County Office of Emergency Management, introducing the framework the county uses to prioritize actions from 0–5 feet out to the extended property. Anderson said about "90% of homes are lost from a wildfire due to embers," stressing that embers, radiant heat and direct flame contact all pose distinct risks.

Why it matters: Presenters said research from the Missoula Fire Lab and other national labs shows that embers can ignite small combustible features near a home—mulch, porch materials or accumulated debris—and that modest changes to landscaping and building details can markedly improve survivability. Amy Solenberg, executive director of Climate Smart Missoula, framed the session as part of Wildfire Awareness Month and pointed attendees to montanawildfiresmoke.org for smoke- preparedness materials.

Practical home-hardening steps

Olivia Anderson walked the audience through the three zones and specific recommendations she said reduce risk most efficiently.

- Immediate zone (0–5 feet): Keep combustible materials away from siding and doorways; replace wood mulch with rock or gravel; maintain paint/stain on wood siding; close openings with 1/8‑inch metal mesh over attic and foundation vents; consider boxed eaves; and use multi‑pane windows where possible.

- Five‑foot specifics: Anderson advised maintaining a clear five‑foot perimeter: "If you have wood mulch and you're able to, replacing that with some sort of rock or stone, gravel," she said. She recommended keeping items such as cushions and brooms off porches during fire season and moving stored combustibles if a fire is nearby.

- Near‑yard zone (5–30 feet): Keep lawns mowed and watered, remove ladder fuels beneath trees, limb lower branches and avoid planting highly flammable landscaping plants such as junipers next to siding.

- Extended/forest zone (30–100+ feet): On forested properties maintain tree spacing and remove ladder fuels; on steep slopes increase spacing because fire runs uphill faster, Anderson said.

County programs, grants and assessments

Missoula County described a fuel‑mitigation cost‑share program that assists homeowners with hiring contractors to thin vegetation. Anderson said the program is structured as a 75/25 match, stating that the county pays 75 and the homeowner pays 25 during the presentation. She said projects have varied in size (from about an acre to larger parcels) and named Patty Canyon as an area with completed projects.

Anderson said the county has issued "more than 30" grants in about a year under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program.

The presenter also offered free home assessments: staff can visit a property and provide a prioritized list of risks and actions specific to that home. Sign-up was offered at the event table and through the Home Upgrade Hub.

Evacuation planning and public-safety tradeoffs

Anderson emphasized evacuation planning and explained Missoula County’s two-tier messaging: "A warning means my car is packed. I'm ready to go, and an order means I'm on my way," she said. She recommended preparing a 72‑hour bag (food, water, medicines and pet supplies) and planning for pets, livestock and household members who may be home alone.

An audience member recounted fatalities in a San Diego fire and urged caution about late departures; Anderson responded that Missoula County’s messaging will be to evacuate and that delaying departures can put first responders at risk.

Smoke, indoor air and monitoring

Presenters recommended HEPA air cleaners for bedrooms and pointed to practical options: commercially rated HEPA machines and do‑it‑yourself box‑fan cleaners. Amy Solenberg noted a Northwestern Energy rebate that will reimburse $100 for qualifying air cleaners for account holders; Olivia and Amy advised replacing dirty filters regularly and checking local air quality.

For monitoring, presenters recommended the EPA site fire.airnow.gov, local regulatory monitors operated by Missoula Public Health, and the PurpleAir sensor network, and reiterated montanawildfiresmoke.org for local guidance and printable resources.

Insurance, Firewise and neighborhood action

Attendees asked whether insurers recognize Firewise work. Anderson said some insurers are beginning to recognize Firewise programs, but she cautioned there is no guarantee mitigation will preserve an individual homeowner’s policy and that insurance determinations vary.

County staff described Firewise neighborhood recognition and an upcoming community assessment planned for Stone Mountain; presenters encouraged neighborhood-led efforts and "spark-plug" neighbors to help spread behavior change.

Events and follow-up

Presenters promoted two near-term events and services: a "Blooms and Brews" demonstration (Oct. 14) with a juniper burn demonstration, and a four‑week Home Upgrade Hub series starting Oct. 22 that will cover in‑home assessments, tax credits, rebates and retrofit planning. Attendees were invited to sign up for home assessments at the table and to take brochures or follow up by email.

Closing note

Presenters emphasized practical, incremental steps: sealing vents, keeping the five‑foot zone clear, replacing wood mulch and preparing an evacuation plan. Anderson summarized: "The home ignition zone...is science based. It...does work. And little things do make a big difference."