Federal, state and local groups partner on East Fork wildfire mitigation project

SULA — Residents outside of Sula are used to living with wildfires. With one road in and out, safety improvements are critical for the community. Now, a unique, collaborative project is underway to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen power infrastructure along the East Fork of the Bitterroot.

“It is one of the highest-rated counties, not only in our state, but in the country, in terms of fire danger to homes,” said Thayer Jacques, Hamilton unit manager with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DRNC). Federal, state and local groups partner on East Fork wildfire mitigation project

Bitterroot National Forest had a record number of fire starts this year across the forest. In the hopes of preventing future fires, the Forest Service, the DNRC, Ravalli Electric Cooper