Wildfire and Firewise in Seeley Lake

Wildfire is part of living near Seeley Lake. In 2017 the lightning-caused Rice Ridge Fire grew to about 155,900 acres, and the Seeley Lake area was under mandatory evacuation from August 28 until September 5.¹ The practical response is not alarm but preparation: know where alerts come from, keep the ground around buildings in shape, and understand your insurance before fire season.

This page collects the resources that apply here. It is general information. For your own property, the Seeley Lake fire department and Missoula County are the authorities.

What happened in 2017?

The Rice Ridge Fire started from lightning on July 24, 2017. It cost an estimated $33.8 million to fight, became a megafire on September 3 and merged with the Reef Fire on September 5.¹ Seeley Lake itself was closed to boats from August 7 to 18 and again from August 28 to September 7 so aircraft could draw water.¹ The fire burned the entire Morrell Falls trail.¹² The full story is on the Rice Ridge Fire page.

Why does fire keep coming back here?

Summers are dry. NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for the Seeley Lake Ranger Station show about 1.07 inches of precipitation in July and 0.96 inches in August, the two driest months, with average highs near 83 F.⁹

Fire is also old here. Western larch has bark 3 to 6 inches thick, which helps it survive fire,¹⁰ and Gus, the champion larch west of town, has survived about 40 fires in roughly 1,000 years.¹⁰ An interpretive sign at the Girard Grove says the Salish and Pend d’Oreille used low-intensity fire on this landscape.¹¹

How do I get evacuation alerts?

Set these up before summer, not during a fire:

Highway 83 is the main road through the valley. It meets Montana 200 about 14 miles south of town and runs about 74 miles north to Bigfork,¹³ so it is worth knowing both directions out. For any emergency, call 911.

What is defensible space, and who gives guidance?

In general terms, defensible space means managing trees, brush and other flammable material around a building so it is less likely to ignite and safer for firefighters to defend. The specifics, such as how far out to thin and what to remove first, depend on the slope, the vegetation and the building.

This guide has not reproduced a specific agency’s distances or zone rules, because we have not verified the current guidance that applies locally. For advice on your property, start with:

• The Seeley Lake fire department, 200 Firehouse Lane, 406-677-2400.⁸
• Missoula County, whose Seeley Lake profile references a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for the area.² This guide has not reviewed the plan’s contents.
• Lolo National Forest fire information, for conditions on surrounding public land.⁴

Practical starting points that any of them can help you work through: keep roofs, gutters and decks clear of needles, think about where you stack firewood, and make sure an engine can reach your house and turn around. The Census Bureau estimates 246 of 749 occupied households in the Seeley Lake area heat mainly with wood, so woodpiles are a common item to plan for.¹⁴

Is Seeley Lake a Firewise community?

Not verified. This guide could not confirm whether any Seeley Lake neighborhood is recognized under the Firewise USA program. If it matters to you, for example for insurance, ask the Seeley Lake fire department (406-677-2400) or Missoula County.

What should I know about insurance?

This guide does not track insurers, availability or premiums, so these are general points rather than local facts:

• Ask early. If you are buying, get an insurance quote before you are committed, not in the last week before closing.
• Ask what the insurer looks at. Underwriters may consider fire protection, distance to a fire station, road access and the vegetation around the house. Have the answers ready.
• Check the coverage, not just the price. Ask how a total loss would be valued, whether outbuildings are covered, and whether debris removal and temporary housing are included.
• Keep records. A home inventory with photos, stored somewhere other than the house, makes any claim easier.

A short checklist for property owners

Buying property? The buying land guide includes wildfire questions in its due-diligence checklist.