This project will support the national cohesive wildland fire management strategy by focusing on creating fire adapted communities across missoula county, which supports increased potential for…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded Missoula County $1.58 million on January 6, 2026, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Community Wildfire Defense Grants program (CFDA 10.720) to create fire-adapted communities across Missoula County and reduce wildfire risk in the built environment.

The project supports the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy by building county capacity for proactive land use planning, engaging with landowners and wildfire mitigation partners, and increasing collaborative efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. The work addresses 79,445 priority Wildland-Urban Interface acres and 472,998 total priority acres as identified in the Montana Forest Action Plan, with the goal of enhancing wildfire resilience and enabling safe, effective, risk-based wildfire response.

The award obligates $1.58 million and runs through November 30, 2030, with performance occurring in Montana. Assistance type is Project Grant.

This project will support the national cohesive wildland fire management strategy by focusing on creating fire adapted communities across missoula county, which supports increased potential for wildfire resilient landscapes and safe, effective, risk based wildfire response. This project aims to reduce wildfire risk and build community resilience to wildfire, particularly of the built environment, by building county capacity, supporting proactive land use planning, working with landowners, supporting wildfire mitigation partners, and increasing collaborative efforts with federal, state, local agencies to address the 79,445 priority wildland urban interface acres and the 472,998 total priority acres located within missoula county, as described in the montana forest action plan.