Flathead Electric Cooperative is actively inviting community members to participate in shaping its updated wildfire mitigation plan, a critical initiative designed to enhance public safety and protect local landscapes as wildfire season continues to pose a significant threat across the region.
This crucial public input period stems directly from the passage of House Bill 490 in the 2025 legislative session, a landmark measure requiring all electric utilities to revise their existing wildfire mitigation strategies and, for the first time, incorporate a mandatory public comment phase. This legislative advancement ensures that residents have a direct voice in the comprehensive preparations aimed at fortifying communities against the escalating dangers of wildfires.
Courtney Stone, the communications and marketing supervisor for Flathead Electric Cooperative, underscored the indispensable role of collective action in this endeavor. She highlighted that the most effective wildfire mitigation efforts in northwest Montana will emerge from a collaborative partnership between the cooperative and its members, working synergistically to diminish wildfire risks across the vast landscape.
The cooperative’s extensively developed wildfire mitigation plan meticulously details various methods and strategies to manage and substantially reduce the potential for their extensive utility system to either cause or contribute to a wildfire incident. The overarching objective remains steadfast: to ensure that all operational activities are executed with the highest degree of reliability and safety for both the community and the environment.
Stone further articulated the cooperative’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding its infrastructure. She emphasized that consistently maintaining and hardening the electrical grid against potential wildfire ignitions has been a paramount concern and a strategic priority for many years, reflecting a proactive approach to evolving environmental challenges.
While the mitigation plan was initially conceived and developed in 2021, it undergoes regular and rigorous updates to reflect new information and best practices. However, the recent legislative mandate marks a pivotal moment, as it introduces the unprecedented opportunity for direct public engagement and feedback, allowing for a more inclusive and robust planning process.
To facilitate this vital public discourse, a public meeting has been formally scheduled for August 19, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The session will take place in the Co-op’s Community Room, conveniently located at 2510 U.S. Highway 2 East, Kalispell. This meeting offers residents a valuable platform to discuss the proposed mitigation plan in detail and to receive expert advice on practical measures for enhancing the wildfire resistance of their own homes.
Stone concluded by reinforcing the broader implications of these collective efforts, succinctly stating that “Wildfires don’t just stop at a power line easement.” This powerful sentiment underscores the shared responsibility of all stakeholders – private property owners, electric utilities, and every entity in between – to collaborate comprehensively in mitigating wildfire threats across diverse landscapes and property boundaries within the area, fostering a resilient and safer environment for everyone.
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