Wildfire Mitigation Fundraising Effort Results in $216,000 to Hire Mitigation Coordinator
The Teton Valley community rallied around wildfire mitigation efforts in summer 2026 by donating $216,000 for Teton County Fire Rescue to hire a Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator. The fundraising effort culminated Friday, October 2, in a ceremony honoring this accomplishment and presenting checks from our community partners to Fire Chief Mike Maltaverne.
Jeff Carter, lead fundraiser, commented, “This effort was made possible in eight months through the generosity and commitment of Teton Valley Community members and extraordinary fundraising efforts by seven committee members. Our community Partners, Teton Aviation, Grand Targhee, Forage, Citizen 33, and Tatanka, sewed it up with a challenge match, donations through visitations at Targhee and a wildfire mitigation beer.”
Matthew Ward of The Nature Conservancy has been working with Teton County Fire Rescue to expand their wildfire mitigation services in the valley. Without Matthew’s advocacy and commitment of one-third of the mitigation coordinator’s three-year salary, none of this would have been possible.
This effort began with the realization that Teton Valley was behind in its mitigation efforts; a discussion with the Fire Chief about his need to increase wildfire mitigation in Teton County; and the formation of the Teton Valley Fire Action Community Team. The dedicated fundraising team Jeff Carter, Tim Watters, Susie and David Work, Janna Rankin, Nate Carey, and Astrid Warden went to work and, in eight short months, raised the funds necessary for one year’s salary and, just as important, awareness of wildfire mitigation projects and needs in our community. Liz Davy of Greater Yellowstone Fire Action Network supported this effort by providing information and resources to increase wildfire preparedness in this community.
This campaign would not have been possible without the structure and support from Community Foundation Teton Valley. A nonprofit was intentionally not created, and the Community Foundation enabled this effort to move quickly and offer donors the benefit of a tax deduction. Thank you, Foundation staff!
A community celebration is planned for early November. The new Mitigation Coordinator will be introduced to the community, and the results of a fire behavior model will be announced.
“Thank you, Teton Valley, for your generosity, commitment, and curiosity about wildfire mitigation actions, and for making a difference to reduce our risk,” said Liz Davy, GYFAN
