New Development In Scenic West Creates Catastrophic Fire Risk

July 2, 2007

In the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana, a house under construction in a setting that is increasingly desired by homeowners and frustrating to firefighters.

"Federal agencies at the front lines of defending these new communities from peril are starting to say enough is enough is becoming too expensive to protect with so many people pushing up against the fringes."

By JESSE McKINLEY and KIRK JOHNSON

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/us/26fire.html?_r=4&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin