Montana City Volunteer Fire Department officials have announced the 2008 Firewise Day will be held Saturday, June 21 from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Unlike past years, where Firewise Day activities centered around Fire Station One, this year efforts will be focused on community fire mitigation in a different way with firefighters available by appointment to visit homeowners on the 21st to help them determine their fire mitigation needs.

     Firefighters will also be available all day on the 21st at the Montana City Transfer Site to answer questions and distribute Firewise and other fire mitigation information. Tri-County FireSafe Working Group homeowner fire mitigation grant information will also be available at the Transfer Site.

     With all of Montana City located within the Wildland Urban Interface or WUI (the area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels, including grassland), it is important homeowners be prepared prior to a wildland fire, say fire officials. Recent rains have temporarily reduced the high fire danger, giving homeowners a little more time to prepare for this year’s wildfire season, they say.

     Homeowners who take proactive steps to mitigate the risk of home ignition due to a wildland fire have a better chance of their home surviving the fire than those who do nothing to prepare their property, firefighters remind residents.

     The purpose of the Montana City Firewise Day is to provide fire mitigation information so homeowners are able to create 'survivable space' for their homes. Firewise techniques homeowners utilize include: using fire-resistant plants in their landscaping, thinning trees and brush, building with ignition-resistant materials, and choosing building sites away from slopes.

     Homeowners do not need to cut down all their trees to be "fire safe." Clearing out dead vegetation (including trees and brush killed by beetles and disease) in addition to thinning healthy trees and brush can actually result in an improved aesthetic appearance of the property. Opening up the tree canopy allows for grass and wildflowers to flourish in the sunlight and strengthens the health of remaining trees compared to a crowded stand where many trees compete for the same amount of soil nutrients and water.

     Homeowners in the Montana City Fire District can schedule a firefighter visit by calling Karen Semple at 443-3376, leaving name, physical address of property, phone number and preference for a morning or afternoon visit. Appointments will only be designated as morning or afternoon, with no more specific time assigned. Appointments will be confirmed the week prior to June 21.