--- title: "Montana Wildfire Guide — Defensible Space, Insurance & Claims | Corbivo" description: "How Montana homeowners prepare for wildfire — defensible space, insurance options, building a home inventory ahead of any fire, and filing a claim. Official resources." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#organization", "name": "Corbivo", "url": "https://corbivo.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://corbivo.com/corbivo-logo-square.png", "width": 1024, "height": 1024, "contentUrl": "https://corbivo.com/corbivo-logo-square.png" }, "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://corbivo.com/corbivo-logo-square.png", "width": 1024, "height": 1024 }, "description": "Corbivo is a home title-protection and home-inventory app that documents your home, monitors your deed 24/7, and keeps records ready for insurance, FEMA, and resale." }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#website", "url": "https://corbivo.com/", "name": "Corbivo", "publisher": { "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#app", "name": "Corbivo", "applicationCategory": "LifestyleApplication", "operatingSystem": "Web", "url": "https://corbivo.com/", "description": "Home title protection and home-inventory app. AI-scans appliances, receipts, warranties and manuals; monitors your deed 24/7; and keeps disaster-ready, tax-ready records.", "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "price": "0", "priceCurrency": "USD", "description": "14-day free trial, card required, cancel anytime" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Montana Wildfire Preparedness: Defensible Space, Insurance & Claims", "description": "How Montana homeowners prepare for wildfire — defensible space, insurance options, building a home inventory ahead of any fire, and filing a claim. Official resources.", "datePublished": "2026-11-01", "dateModified": "2026-11-01", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Corbivo Team", "url": "https://corbivo.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Corbivo", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://corbivo.com/favicon.jpg" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://corbivo.com/wildfire-prep/montana/", "about": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Montana, United States" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is wildfire season in Montana?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Montana's wildfire season is long — often May through October — with the peak in July, August, and early September when hot, dry weather and lightning combine with heavy forest and rangeland fuels." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Montana have a FAIR Plan?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Montana does NOT have a traditional FAIR Plan (state-created insurer of last resort). Homeowners use the standard admitted market, independent agents, and the surplus-lines (non-admitted) market for hard-to-insure homes." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if my Montana home is hard to insure?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Work with an independent insurance agent who can shop both the admitted market and the surplus-lines market. Document any Firewise USA participation and home-hardening work — mitigation is what keeps or restores coverage. If you feel a carrier is treating you unfairly, contact the Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance at 800-332-6148." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much defensible space do I need?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Fire agencies recommend 100 feet of defensible space around your home in three zones. Zone 0 (0–5 ft) is ember-resistant — gravel or hardscape, no bark mulch, no wood fencing attached to the house. Zone 1 (5–30 ft) is lean, clean, and green. Zone 2 (30–100 ft) is reduced fuel — mowed grass, spaced trees, no ladder fuels." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What should I grab when evacuating?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Wind-driven Montana fires can move miles in an hour. Keep a go-bag packed: N95 masks and goggles, prescription medications, phone chargers and a battery pack, sturdy shoes and long sleeves, cash, copies of ID and insurance. Grab pets in carriers and — if there's time — small irreplaceables. Do not risk your life for possessions." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I prove what I owned after a total loss?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After a total-loss wildfire there is nothing left to photograph — the only proof is what you documented before the fire. A room-by-room video walkthrough, photos of appliance data plates, and receipts for major items, all stored off-site." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://corbivo.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Wildfire Prep", "item": "https://corbivo.com/wildfire-prep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Montana", "item": "https://corbivo.com/wildfire-prep/montana/" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How should Montana homeowners prepare their home records for wildfire season?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Montana homeowners should document their home and possessions and back that record up off-site before summer's heat and lightning arrive. Montana's wildfire season typically runs from July through September, though hot, dry years can start it a month early. Risk is greatest in the forested wildland-urban interface of western Montana, where homes along mountain highways sit amid dense timber. The 2017 Lolo Peak Fire, ignited by lightning southwest of Lolo, burned about 53,902 acres, destroyed two homes, and forced more than 3,000 people to evacuate during a record-hot, drought-driven season that scorched nearly 1.3 million acres statewide. Montana Disaster and Emergency Services coordinates statewide preparedness and publishes wildfire-season resources, while the Ready, Set, Go! evacuation framework is used across many Montana counties. Corbivo keeps a FEMA-ready home inventory and your full home file backed up off-site, so if you file an insurance or federal-assistance claim after a wildfire, your documentation is already complete and accessible from anywhere." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is wildfire season in Montana?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Montana's wildfire season generally spans July through September, peaking in the hot, dry, lightning-prone weeks of late summer; in drought years it can begin as early as June. The highest risk lies in western Montana's mountainous wildland-urban interface, where homes and communities are woven into heavily forested valleys and ridgelines. Extended drought and beetle-killed timber add fuel, and dry lightning is a frequent ignition source. Eastern Montana's grasslands can also carry fast, wind-driven fires. Warm, dry Junes increasingly push Montana's fire season earlier than its historical norm." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to main content](#main-content) [![Corbivo™](/assets/corbivo-logo-ClvvuQzE.png)](/) [Pricing](/pricing)[How It Works](/how-it-works)[TitleVault™](/title-vault)[Sign in](/login)[Get your score — FREE](/signup) ![Wildfire smoke sky over a Montana forest and rangeland home with defensible space](/assets/wildfire-prep-montana-hero-CpmqUjFw.jpg) Montana # Montana wildfire preparedness — a calm, clear guide How to prepare your home, what to do when smoke or evacuation warnings arrive, and where to find help across Montana. By Corbivo Team Last updated: November 2026 [Home](/)/ [Wildfire Prep](/wildfire-prep/)/ Montana ## 1\. Montana's wildfire risk, by the numbers Montana combines large forest and rangeland fire with unusually long summer fire seasons — and rising WUI non-renewals. Montana has among the highest per-state shares of **fire-prone properties** in the country. Fire fuels range across dense forest, foothills, and vast rangelands. Fire seasons run **long — often May through October** — with the peak in July, August, and early September. Rising WUI non-renewals are pushing more Montana homeowners into the surplus-lines market. ## 2\. Defensible space & home hardening In Montana forest and range fires, the **first 5 feet** around your house is the single most important zone. - **Zone 0 (0–5 ft) — non-combustible buffer.** Gravel, hardscape, or bare mineral soil against the foundation. No bark mulch or wood chips, no combustible plants, no wood fencing attached to the house. Clear leaves and needles from roof and gutters. - **Zone 1 (5–30 ft) — lean, clean, green.** Irrigated, well-spaced, low-growing plants. Keep grass mowed short. Remove dead vegetation. Trim tree limbs at least 10 ft from the house and 10 ft from the chimney. Move firewood piles out to Zone 2. - **Zone 2 (30–100 ft) — reduced fuel.** Mow annual grasses. Space trees so canopies don't touch — 10 ft apart on flat ground, more on slopes. Remove ladder fuels. - **Home hardening.** Class-A rated roof, ember-resistant (⅛-inch mesh) vents, enclosed eaves and soffits, dual-pane or tempered windows, non-combustible siding where possible. ## 3\. Build your home inventory long before wildfire season Montana fire seasons are long — documentation is what you can't reconstruct after. When your home burns to the foundation, there is nothing left to photograph. The only proof of what you owned is what you captured _before_ the fire, stored somewhere off your property. Undocumented belongings are the single biggest reason Montana homeowners get underpaid after a total loss. - Walk every room with your phone and record slow, deliberate video. Open closets, drawers, and cabinets. - Photograph the front of every appliance and its data plate (brand, model, serial number). - Keep receipts, order confirmations, and warranty registrations for expensive items. - Store the whole record off-site — cloud storage, an email to yourself, or a service that keeps a timestamped copy. In a wildfire total loss, the record you built ahead of time is the only proof you'll have. Build it on a calm afternoon — never during an emergency. **Corbivo keeps a timestamped inventory** of your home, appliances, and belongings — stored off your property, ready long before you'd ever need it. [Start your Montana home file — free](/signup) ## 4\. The Montana insurance reality (no FAIR Plan) Montana does **NOT** have a traditional FAIR Plan. Use the standard market, independent agents, and **surplus lines** for hard-to-insure homes. Firewise and home-hardening steps help. **If you're non-renewed.** Ask an independent agent to shop specialty and surplus-lines carriers. Document any Firewise USA participation and home-hardening work — mitigation is what keeps or restores coverage. **Consumer help.** The **Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance** can help if you feel you're being treated unfairly: 800-332-6148. **If you're non-renewed:** Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance — [800-332-6148](tel:+18003326148) / [csimt.gov](https://csimt.gov/). ## 5\. Evacuation planning Montana counties use the **Ready-Set-Go** framework and county emergency notification systems. - **Know your zone.** Look up your county's emergency notification system and register. Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone. - **Ready — before fire season.** Defensible space done. Home-hardening documented. Go-bag packed. Home inventory in the cloud. Two evacuation routes identified. Pet carriers accessible. - **Set — red flag warnings / nearby fire.** Move go-bag and valuables to the vehicle. Park facing out. Full tank of gas. Charge phones and battery packs. Close windows and interior doors. - **Go — evacuation order.** Do not wait in wind-driven conditions. Take your go-bag, pets in carriers, medications, phone chargers, IDs, insurance info. Wear long sleeves and closed-toe shoes. - **Go-bag basics.** N95 masks and goggles, prescription meds, phone chargers + battery pack, cash, copies of ID and policies, a written contact list, water and snacks, pet food and leashes. ## 6\. After a wildfire in Montana 1. **Do not return until officially cleared.** Burned neighborhoods are closed for unstable structures, live wires, hot spots, and hazardous materials. 2. **Assume ash is toxic.** Post-wildfire ash contains heavy metals, asbestos, and other hazards. Wear an N95 or better, gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection. 3. **Watch for flash floods and debris flows in burn scars.** Burned hillsides can't hold water — the first significant rain after a fire can produce dangerous mud and debris flows. 4. **Document everything before cleanup.** Photograph and video the exterior, interior, and every destroyed item. Do not remove debris until your adjuster and any state-managed debris-removal program has inspected. 5. **Beware post-fire contractor scams.** Never pay in full up front, never sign an assignment-of-benefits form under pressure, and verify licensure before hiring. ## 7\. Filing a Montana wildfire claim 1. **Open the claim immediately.** Call your carrier's claims line. Get a claim number and adjuster name in writing. 2. **Ask about Additional Living Expenses (ALE) on day one.** ALE covers hotels, rentals, meals, pet boarding, and mileage above your normal costs while your home is uninhabitable. Save every receipt from the moment you evacuate. 3. **Document smoke damage aggressively.** Smoke penetrates HVAC systems, insulation, drywall, and porous belongings. Get independent air-quality and surface testing if the insurer resists remediation. 4. **Build the total-loss contents inventory.** Use your pre-loss video walkthrough and appliance data-plate photos as the backbone. Reconstruct room by room. 5. **Keep a claims diary.** Date, person, phone number, what was said. Wildfire claims routinely take a year or more. 6. **If unresolved, call the state insurance regulator.** Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance: [800-332-6148](tel:+18003326148) ([csimt.gov](https://csimt.gov/)). ## 8\. Montana contacts Need Contact Emergency / report a fire 911 Montana DNRC (wildfire) [dnrc.mt.gov](https://dnrc.mt.gov/) Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance [800-332-6148](https://csimt.gov/) FEMA Disaster Assistance [1-800-621-3362](https://www.disasterassistance.gov/) Smoke / air quality [airnow.gov](https://www.airnow.gov/) ## Frequently asked questions ### When is wildfire season in Montana? ### Does Montana have a FAIR Plan? ### What if my Montana home is hard to insure? ### How much defensible space do I need? ### What should I grab when evacuating? ### How do I prove what I owned after a total loss? ## Official Montana Resources - [ Montana DNRC State wildfire response, prevention, and mitigation ](https://dnrc.mt.gov/) - [ MT Commissioner of Securities & Insurance Consumer help — 800-332-6148 ](https://csimt.gov/) - [ Ready.gov — Wildfires Federal wildfire preparedness guide ](https://www.ready.gov/wildfires) - [ AirNow Real-time smoke, AQI, and fire maps ](https://www.airnow.gov/) More wildfire resources For the full preparedness, documentation, and claims playbook — plus other state guides as they roll out — see our [main Wildfire Preparedness Guide](/wildfire-prep/). ### Have your Montana home file ready before you have to evacuate Corbivo keeps a timestamped, cloud-stored record of your home and belongings — off your property, and ready the moment you file a wildfire claim. [Get started free](/signup) Montana wildfire prep ## Answers for Montana homeowners ## How should Montana homeowners prepare their home records for wildfire season? Montana homeowners should document their home and possessions and back that record up off-site before summer's heat and lightning arrive. Montana's wildfire season typically runs from July through September, though hot, dry years can start it a month early. Risk is greatest in the forested wildland-urban interface of western Montana, where homes along mountain highways sit amid dense timber. The 2017 Lolo Peak Fire, ignited by lightning southwest of Lolo, burned about 53,902 acres, destroyed two homes, and forced more than 3,000 people to evacuate during a record-hot, drought-driven season that scorched nearly 1.3 million acres statewide. Montana Disaster and Emergency Services coordinates statewide preparedness and publishes wildfire-season resources, while the Ready, Set, Go! evacuation framework is used across many Montana counties. Corbivo keeps a FEMA-ready home inventory and your full home file backed up off-site, so if you file an insurance or federal-assistance claim after a wildfire, your documentation is already complete and accessible from anywhere. ## When is wildfire season in Montana? Montana's wildfire season generally spans July through September, peaking in the hot, dry, lightning-prone weeks of late summer; in drought years it can begin as early as June. The highest risk lies in western Montana's mountainous wildland-urban interface, where homes and communities are woven into heavily forested valleys and ridgelines. Extended drought and beetle-killed timber add fuel, and dry lightning is a frequent ignition source. Eastern Montana's grasslands can also carry fast, wind-driven fires. Warm, dry Junes increasingly push Montana's fire season earlier than its historical norm. [![Corbivo™](/assets/corbivo-logo-white-F9K1zQW4.png)](/) Your home's complete digital file. Track, maintain, and protect. TitleVault™ Home Title Protection included on every paid plan. [](https://facebook.com/corbivo)[](https://x.com/corbivo)[](https://tiktok.com/@corbivo)[](https://instagram.com/corbivo) Stay updated Email addressSubscribe No spam, ever. 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