Subsidizing development: Montanans pay the cost for high

Despite larger and hotter wildfires resulting from our warming climate and a century of excessive fire suppression, residential development in fire-prone areas is increasing exponentially. Much of

Montana's growing population is moving into highrisk areas such as the wildland urban interface (WUI), where every new home presents huge safety risks for people and property. The rapid expansion of the WUI is creating significant challenges for our firefighters, public officials, and land managers, and poses enormous costs to protect vulnerable homes when fires inevitably occur.

Agency responsibility to protect property has increased significantly over the last 50 years, but land use planning that reduces risk and unnecessary spending hasn't kept pace. According to a 2025 report prepared by th