Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 60 M O N TA N A i n 3 yea rs WILDFIRES MONTANANS HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY EXPECTANT THAT THERE IS NOW A REGULAR "FIRE SEASON" IN MONTANA. WHAT IS THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO FOR THE DURATION OF "FIRE SEASON" OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS? Studies show that fire season has gotten longer and that trend is predicted to continue. One research study found that since the 1980s, the average fire season length increased by 78 days. Another report concluded that, despite variation between years, western states are gradually evolving toward a typical fire season of more than 300 days per year. WHAT PROPORTION OF MONTANA FORESTS ARE LIKELY TO BURN BY THE YEAR 2048? Based on current conditions and data, we estimate that an aver- age of about 115,000 acres of forest land in Montana will burn each year for the next three decades. at means that by 2048, a total of about 3.5 million acres, or nearly 14% of Montana forest land, could burn. WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SEVERE FIRE CONDITIONS IN MONTANA? Two climatic factors most influence wildland fire severity across Montana: rising temperatures and reductions in summertime precipitation. IS THERE A CONCEIVABLE BALANCE THAT CAN SOMEDAY BE ATTAINED WITH NATURAL BURNS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE HEALTH OF MONTANA ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE? It is possible to achieve sustainable and healthy forests in Mon- tana through removing excess vegetation and treating fire-adapted landscapes with carefully managed fire. Wildland fire management is vitally important to the land management mission of the USDA Forest Service, to our partners' missions, and to the American peo- ple. We must take the necessary steps to help reduce fire risk, across all land ownerships. We manage many landscapes that have evolved to depend on fire. We should use wildland fire to achieve desired ecological conditions where possible and where it makes sense. WHAT ARE THE MOST PROMISING LONG-TERM PLANS THE FOREST SERVICE HAS FOR FIRE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OVER THE NEXT THREE DECADES? e USDA Forest Service has been working with other federal, tribal, state, and local government agencies to develop and imple- ment the "National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strat- egy" to address the challenges posed by wildfires in the U.S. is strategy has three components that are all critical for fire preven- tion and management: Safe and Effective Wildfire Response; Fire Adapted Communities, and Resilient Landscapes. At this time, the most promising plans for fire prevention and management over the next three decades are in the Resilient Land- scapes component. anks to the help of the Montana congressio- nal delegation, and many other members of Congress, the USDA Forest Service received an additional $40 million for hazardous fuels reduction and the bill includes several provisions that will significantly enhance the USDA Forest Service's ability to actively manage and improve the condition of America's forests. Currently, at least one acre in three is in poor health. e agency is committed to actively manage our forests to improve their condi- tions while providing the products and services that citizens need. HOW WOULD YOU RATE MONTANA'S PREPAREDNESS FOR WILDFIRE SEASON RELATIVE TO OTHER STATES? HOW CAN MONTANA IMPROVE ITS PREPAREDNESS IN THE FUTURE? Montana is as well prepared as possible to respond to wildfires. e strength of the wildfire response system in Montana, and all states, is that federal, tribal, state, local, and volunteer agencies all work together to share firefighters, engines, aircraft, and other wildfire suppression assets and to respond to wildfires on land under the jurisdiction of all agencies. Responding to wildfires is very difficult because while we can predict areas that have high potential for wildfires, we can't predict when or where human-caused wildfires can occur and we can experi- ence dry lightning storms that ignite hundreds of wildfires over a large area all at the same time. During periods of high wildfire activity, agen- cies in Montana work together to prioritize wildfires with those threat- ening lives, property, community infrastructure, and valuable natural and cultural resources receiving wildfire suppression assets first and all wildfires receiving wildfire suppression assets as quickly as possible.

• Cover