Firewise Demonstration Garden

The MT City fire wise garden is an example of TCFSWG’s efforts to demonstrate methods to reduce risks to the home ignition zone. Fire wise practices include the use of construction materials, landscape design and vegetation that lower wildfire risk around a home. The plants selected for this project are “fire wise” or fire resistant, meaning they are less flammable than others and just happen to be drought tolerant and deer resistant! The primary goal of the project is to demonstrate that less flammable vegetation can create attractive landscaping and inspire the property owners to consider fire and drought mitigation at their homes.

PROJECT TIMELINE

2020-2021

A partnership germinates

In 2020 a partnership was established with the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department to construct a fire wise landscape garden at fire station 1, just north of the round-about at the Mt. City exit off I-15. Start-up funding was provided by Jefferson County, the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC), and the US Forest Service (USFS).

In 2021, the approximately one-half acre of land west of the fire station was prepped by removing the existing crested wheatgrass and reworking the soil. Irrigation, a concrete border, landscaping fabric, decorative rock and a decomposed granite pathway were installed. The pathway and site amenities were designed to be handicap accessible.

2022

the garden takes root!

During the spring and summer of 2022 irrigation, landscaping and the first phase of planting was completed. Over 52 flowering plants, 21 shrubs, and 10 trees were planted. A large variety of plants were planted to better demonstrate the wide range of fire wise vegetation that is available to use in this region of Montana. The garden was designed and planted to demonstrate that an effective landscape design includes well-spaced plants with low-flammability characteristics, surrounded by a non-flammable material like stone mulch.

2023
nearing completion

Spring kicked off a busy season at the garden. The final garden bed, was constructed. Native plants and rocks were used for the new crevice garden, demonstrating how non-irrigated, native plants can be very attractive.

The summer months were spent weeding and replacing some plants that died over the winter. Four interpretive signs were installed and garden brochures were made available for the public. In September, construction on the Sonny Stiger Memorial Pavilion began through the generous volunteer efforts of Abraham Construction and a generous donation from the Wolf Creek Cattle Company and TrueNorth Steel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwfrY9IPIiw Click link above to access video.

2023 Crevice Garden construction

2024
The Finishing Touches

2024 was a busy and productive year at the garden! Thanks to many volunteers, two more crevice gardens were constructed and planted. Abrahamson Construction completed construction of the Sonny Stiger Memorial Pavilion. Additional interpertive signs were installed and benches were placed inside the pavilion. The MT City Fire Department also installed a picnic table and benches. On September 7, an open house and dedication was attended by nearly 100 people!

Crevice garden construction

pavillion construction

garden open house & dedication- 9/7/24

A BIG blue sky and the Elkhorn Mountains were the perfect backdrop on a beautiful September day for an open house and dedication of the Sonny Stiger Memorial Pavilion and the Fire Wise Garden in Mt. City. More than a 100 people gathered to enjoy the open house which consisted of garden tours, plant giveaways, a BBQ lunch, and the display of the Mt. City VFD fire trucks & apparatus. The main focus of the event was the recognition of garden sponsors and volunteers as well as the dedication of the pavilion which was built by volunteers to showcase ignitio construction materials.

The pavilion was named in honor of Sonny, the founding member of TCFSWG, who dedicated his professional wildfire career to raising awareness about wildfire safety and prevention measures. The pavilion serves as a gathering area and contains informational materials about fire wise landscaping and wildfire safety.

A special thanks to our garden volunteers and sponsors who helped make the event such a success! We’re looking for more volunteers to help! If you are interested in becoming a “Friend of the Fire Wise Garden”, email us at president@tcfswg.org