In commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) named the second week of October as Fire Prevention Week.  Throughout the month of October every year, in cooperation with the Missoula County Fire Protection Association (MCFPA), MRFD participates in Firefighter Frank puppet shows, delivering important fire safety messages in a fun and interactive way to K-2nd grade students in Missoula County.  Students and teachers learn the importance of Stop Drop and Roll, Home Fire Drills, Stay Low and Crawl Under Smoke to escape, match safety, and home fire safety rules. 

The Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division of MRFD offers fire extinguisher education and training to businesses and homeowners within our jurisdiction.  Classes include education and hands-on training with fire extinguishers for their intended use based on what is burning.  Attendees will learn about the science of fire behavior, the five (5) different classes of fire, and the P.A.S.S procedure to safely and efficiently extinguish small (incipient) fires.

Beginning in 2025, MRFD will be offering Residential Fire Inspections to individual homeowners upon request.  This program will include an assessment of commonly encountered fire safety issues and mitigation suggestions in an attempt to prevent unwanted fires in the home.  Education about proper location and installation of smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors will be provided, along with replacement and installation of old/obsolete detectors.  As this program is being developed, we encourage the public to contact MRFD at any time for assistance, fire prevention personnel are here to help.

If your business requires an inspection, please click the “Common Fire Code Violations” tab under “Community Safety” to prepare for the inspection and as a reminder to check for those conditions regularly, in and around your building. 

If you are interested in any of these services provided by MRFD, or have any questions related to life and fire safety, please call the Missoula Rural Fire District Prevention office at (406) 549-6172.  Thank you and stay safe.

For information specific to wildland fire prevention, please click the “Wildland Risk Reduction” tab under “Services” for a link to the website sponsored by MCFPA.  From there, you can navigate to the US Fire Administration’s website for more general fire safety information.