County Seeks to Fund Home Wildfire Mitigation After North Hills Fire
Lewis and Clark County officials announced the county is eligible for up to $450,000 in FEMA assistance to help property owners reduce wildfire risk after this summer's North Hills Fire. The funding can cover most mitigation costs for defensible space, ignition resistant improvements, and post fire erosion protection, but homeowners must provide a local match.
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Lewis and Clark County residents affected by the North Hills Fire now have access to federal mitigation money intended to reduce future wildfire risk and protect rebuilt and existing homes. County leaders say the community is eligible for up to $450,000 in assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for projects that limit fire exposure and stabilize burned slopes.
The grant program allows funds to be used for creating defensible space around homes, reducing hazardous fuels near structures, adding ignition resistant materials to buildings, and implementing erosion and flood protections in areas burned by the fire. Grants will cover up to 75 percent of approved mitigation project costs, while property owners must provide the remaining share either in cash or as documented sweat equity.
Applications for the mitigation grants are being distributed through the Tri County FireSafe Working Group. Local assessors will review submitted projects to determine eligibility and to recommend award amounts. A public meeting was scheduled to help property owners learn about the application process and receive assistance completing their submissions.
County officials framed the funding as a practical next step in reducing wildfire vulnerability across the area. For residents whose properties border forested or brush filled terrain, the grants offer an opportunity to finance fuel reduction and structural hardening work that can be costly at full price. The program also includes measures aimed at stabilizing burned slopes, which can lower the risk of post fire flooding and erosion that threaten downstream properties and infrastructure.
Local emergency responders have pointed to the value of mitigation in limiting damage during recent incidents. Tri Lakes Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Drake commented on how past mitigation efforts helped during recent fires, reinforcing the community case for proactive work before the next fire season.
The structure of the grants raises both practical and equity questions for the county. The requirement that homeowners cover up to 25 percent of project costs may pose a barrier for renters or lower income owners who lack cash or the ability to provide sweat equity. How the assessors prioritize awards and whether smaller, lower cost projects will be favored over larger structural work could shape which neighborhoods benefit first.
For civic engagement, the public meeting and the role of the Tri County FireSafe Working Group create avenues for residents to learn about funding and to influence local mitigation priorities. Timely participation in the application process will be important because federal and local resources are limited, and decisions will determine how quickly specific properties can be hardened or slopes stabilized.
County officials encourage eligible property owners to contact the Tri County FireSafe Working Group for application materials and to attend the scheduled meeting for help with the application process. The available FEMA funds represent a targeted investment in reducing vulnerability and protecting lives and property in the wake of the North Hills Fire.
