HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte on May 8th, joined local, state, tribal, and federal agency administrators, and fire management officers for the 2024 Fire Season Briefing and called for greater collaboration from the federal government on active forest management.

“We know it takes all hands on deck to suppress fires and minimize their impact on families, homes, and property,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Together, we can continue to build healthier, more resilient forests but we need better cooperation in order to get the job done. That’s why I’m calling on everyone here to join us and get more private, state, tribal, and federal acres actively managed.”

During a press conference at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Aviation Hangar in Helena, the group provided updates on fire season preparedness and agency readiness.

DNRC Director Amanda Kaster spoke to the preparedness of the agency and its success with active forest management practices.

“The state of Montana and the DNRC is prepared for the 2024 fire season. Not only through our fire protection program, but also through the work we do to reduce wildfire risks through cross-boundary, landscape scaled forest management,” Dir. Kaster said.

In 2023, DNRC kept 96% of fires in its direct protection to 10 acres or fewer. The state also placed over 36,000 forested acres under management in 2023, compared to 11,000 acres in 2020.

Last year, Gov. Gianforte was proud to advance historic legislation to improve forest health and protect communities from wildfire. Signing House Bill 883 into law, DNRC was allocated $60 million over the biennium to significantly increase the pace and scale of management practices that improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and increase wildfire preparedness.

“The benefits of active forest management are clear and extend far beyond just protecting our forests from wildfires and disease. It creates healthier habitats for wildlife, improves water quality, and supports good-paying jobs,” the governor shared, referring to investments in active management with funding from House Bill 883.

Highlighting the importance of action and collaboration from federal partners, the governor added, “We can continue building on our success immediately. We have the model and infrastructure in place. My challenge to folks around this table is to find projects, build partnerships, and utilize the tools available to bring more acres under active management.”

The current forest health crisis in Montana has created a significant risk for catastrophic wildfire. The governor urged Montanans to do their part to prevent wildfire.

“We can’t stop every wildfire from starting, but we can control what we do to prevent them,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The better prepared we are, the safer and more effective our firefighters can be.”

Earlier this month, the governor declared May as Wildfire Awareness Month in Montana. To view the governor’s proclamation, see here.

To learn more about preparing for fire season and steps to become fire-adapted, visit https://www.mtfireinfo.org/.

The governor’s 2024 Fire Briefing may be viewed here.