Audit Says How Much Landowners Pay For Firefighting Resources Based On Antiquated Process

by Zeke Lloyd 06.13.2025 Montana Free Press Montana’s system of determining how much landowners should pay for wildland firefighting resources has drifted out of balance since its inception decades ago, according to a legislative audit published in April.

Under the Fire Assessment Program run by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the state’s firefighting costs are partially paid for through fees assessed on 5 million acres owned by private citizens.

The properties across 33 fire protection districts pay a mandated fee of $50 plus a 30-cent-per-acre rate for properties over 20 acres. The audit, done by legislative staffers and presented to the Legislative Audit Committee on Friday, found those payments underestimate the true cost of fighting wildfire in those areas.

In 2023, FA...