What Are Hardened Homes? Montana May Need More Soon

If you live in Montana, you already know what summer smells like: sunscreen, a backyard full of freshly grilled hamburgers, and wildfire smoke. It’s become almost a ritual by now. But this year, fire officials are pressing a new trend they believe could provide an edge: “hardened homes.”

No, that’s not a reality show on HGTV. It’s an architectural style where houses are built to be more wildfire resistant. Think fire-resistant roofing, ember-proof vents, and smart landscaping that isn’t going to translate into a burn the instant it dries out.

Homes that are “hardened,” according to fire officials, have a much better chance of surviving when flames roll through. And as more and more people settle near and among forests, rivers, and mountains, this kind of planning isn’t just clever, it’s beginning to seem essential.

Should Montana’s builders be doing more?

The real question is, will we start to see a similar type of construction here? We’ve also got entire high-end neighborhoods plugged into timber outside Missoula, outside Kalispell, outside Helena. The Bitterroot is a hot spot, too. Literally. One terrible fire season and half those places are playing defense.

Fire danger is not new to Montana, and this notion of hardening homes hardly feels like a luxury in a place like this. It seems it should be a no-brainer. If you’re going to build in fire country, you’d better build like you mean it.

It’s just that when the wind changes direction and the sky turns orange, no one gives a damn how cute your cabin looks on Instagram. They want to know if it’s still there.