Montana’s current system for calculating landowners’ fees for wildland firefighting resources is outdated, as highlighted in an April legislative audit. The Fire Assessment Program, managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), involves levying fees on 5 million acres of privately-owned land for firefighting costs. However, the audit revealed that these fees fall short of covering actual wildfire expenses, particularly in fire-prone areas.
Currently, properties in 33 fire protection districts are charged a $50 base fee plus 30 cents per acre for land over 20 acres. According to the audit, these fees only covered 11% of DNRC’s wildfire-related expenses in 2023, despite 92% of non-federal fires originating on private land. This discrepancy resulted in a nearly $34 million gap between collected fees and actual protection costs.
The existing fee structure dates back 70 years, based on a 1958 nationwide study that set landowners’ responsibility at about a third of firefighting costs. The audit suggests modernizing this framework to better reflect current fire risks and costs. During the Legislative Audit Committee hearing, DNRC Director Amanda Kaster expressed reservations about shifting more costs to high-risk areas, diverging from Montana’s traditional funding approach.
Kaster emphasized the need for equitable funding akin to other emergency services, where costs are shared by all beneficiaries. She agreed on improving automated quality controls and procedures, especially after identifying 980 misassessed properties, which led to fee discrepancies totaling $17,000. These errors arose from assessment challenges related to district boundaries and different land types.
At the public hearing, representatives from the timber industry criticized the audit’s findings, highlighting a lack of consultation with stakeholders. Julia Altemus of the Montana Wood Products Association urged caution, suggesting the interim legislative committee proceed with House Bill 70 to further study fire suppression methods and costs. Kenneth Noddings from the Legislative Audit Division acknowledged the need for collaborative efforts to accurately allocate landowner responsibilities based on updated Montana data.
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