Montana Wildfires on Managed Land

Wildfires can be hugely destructive natural disasters. However, they are also incredibly important for the lifecycle of many forest ecosystems. Wildfires serve as a reset for many ecosystems, clearing out detritus and allowing an opportunity for some seeds to flourish with less competition from older individuals. Without wildfires, the world may lose some species that need them in order to reproduce. However, wildfires can also be damaging to personal property, economic resources, and people’s ability to access clean drinking water and food.
This data set explores the connections between land management and the occurrence of wildfires in the state of Montana