Grant helps protect against fires

Sanders County received $40,000 of grant money to help create defensible space around structures and property starting in the month of February.

The grant is managed through the Flathead Economic Policy Center, which is a non-profit corporation “whose mission is to develop and pilot ways for communities to achieve economic and environmental sustainability, a news release stated. The Flathead Economic Center was selected by the Montana DNRC to assume management of the defensible space project and provide cost share assistance to the landowners of Sanders County.

A similar program ran from 2004 to 2010 and completed 136 agreements treating 569 acres around private structures.

The money is split down the middle, in a 50/50 split of the estimated cost of the job, with half of the cost going to the landowner.

While creating a defensible space, the crown density is thinned and cleaned up of existing and created woody debris.

Community forester Rick Carlson said that typically it costs $1,500 to $2,000 to create the defensible space per acre but it depends on the vegetation type that is present on the property. Typically, the western part of Sanders County has a higher cost of clearing due to the thicker vegetation.

Anyone who is interested in creating a defensible space to help protect his or her homes from fires should contact Rick Carlson at 826-3353.