RESTRICTED USE OF DATASETS

Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) collected the digital data for the 24 Western Montana counties delineating structural fire department boundaries for use in a project to help identify areas where the federal fire agencies protect state and private land, that doesn’t also have a structural fire department assigned. The boundaries were collected under contract using the best methods available, including utilizing digital files already available, or digitizing from maps supplied by a county and/or an individual fire department. Maps were produced and circulated among those county officials most knowledgeable about the placement of the department boundaries, including County Clerk & Recorders, GIS Specialist, or a fire department chief. Checks were made by these, and other individuals, and updated maps were produced and sent back for comments. Someone in the county had to attest to the fact, that to the best of their knowledge the data was correct at that time. These files could be out of date, errors are almost certainly present, and the scale of the data is only valid at 1:100,000. No attempt should be made to place an individual structure or residence with any particular structural department boundary. And most importantly, always check with the local county official for the most up to date information, as this data, structural fire department boundaries, are the responsibility or these agencies. Please use this data responsibly!