Living in Big Sky means living in close relationship with forest, wildlife, and community. Firebreak Management partners with landowners in Big Sky, Bozeman, and beyond to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health through expert planning, hands-on stewardship, and defensible space services grounded in real field experience.
wildfire mitigation services in Big Sky & bozeman
"We've worked with Firebreak for two years now. Jess and her crew are always focused on safety and risk reduction. On projects, they are receptive to my ideas and plans. And, they are a great resource on how to go after em. My favorite is to ask: "so... what do you think?", and let em go! My home is that much safer from wildfire. The wildlife are back into good habitat. And, my place looks like great! Call em. You won't be disappointed."
— David B.
Once a screenwriter and now an international event planner, Gemma composes events to display emotion, verve and originality. She adores art history — paying attention to the results but also the characters and places that brought them to be. She brings grit and gusto to every challenge, and her sense of humor feels like home. Unsurprisingly, her work has graced the covers of Vogue, BRIDES and Martha Stewart Weddings.
About Gemma
My latest role is always my favorite, but I can’t help but to be nostalgic for the past — longing for the events and the people whose hearts stay with me. They beat within me like a drum, a pulse catapulting me into the next challenge, the next world of ideas that will keep me up late into the night (but let’s be honest, I’m a night owl anyways).
From Gemma
Jess came to this work through the woods, not an office. Years in conservation, forestry, and wildland fire shaped how she sees land and responsibility—through the lens of what lasts. Firebreak was born from the gap she saw firsthand: homeowners overwhelmed, agencies stretched thin, and fire crews left to respond to outcomes that could’ve been prevented. This work is her answer.
Meet Jess
Starting at $425
Whether it's a wedding, creative editorial, or product launch event — these one-on-one consultations with Gemma Presley provide you with the personalized design and logistical insight to pull off your event. One hour of your time, a lifetime of insights to share.
Event Design Consultations
Forest care that goes beyond aesthetics.
Wildfire mitigation that goes beyond compliance.
Firebreak blends wildfire mitigation, ecological forestry, habitat awareness, and practical planning into cohesive, long-term solutions for landowners. Whether you're preparing a single residence or managing a multi-acre forest, we help you understand your land, your risk, and your role with clear, actionable plans that reflect your goals.
A thoughtful planning process that looks at your property as a whole system. We assess forest health, wildfire risk, defensible space needs, wildlife habitat, and long-term goals to create a clear, phased roadmap for fire mitigation and forest resilience. This is where clarity begins.
Living Forest Plans
Focused work around homes, access, and infrastructure to reduce fire risk and support wildfire preparedness. Treatments are guided by real fire behavior, defensible space principles, and insurance fire mitigation standards, while preserving the natural beauty and character of the land.
Wildfire Resilience and Defensible Space
Hands-on forest work that brings the plan to life. Selective forest thinning, forestry mulching, dead tree and beetle kill removal, fuels reduction, and habitat enhancement are carried out with care for healthy forests, wildlife corridors, and long-term resilience.
Ecological Forestry and Implementation
Case Studies in Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Health
Restoring a 13-acre forest through thoughtful thinning and ecological planning, not just fuels reduction. Privacy buffers, riparian protection, and improved access turned this forest into a healthy, manageable landscape for the long haul.
Bozeman Pass | Forest Health Guided by Stewardship
Thinning steep forested slopes by hand to protect a home and barn, without disturbing habitat or using heavy machinery. The result is a safer property that still supports wildlife movement, future trails, and long-term forest health.
Jackson Creek | Wildfire Safety with Wildlife in Mind
A multi-season project supporting wildfire safety, road access, and structure protection across a large property under active construction. Forestry work was coordinated with builders, designed around waterways, and planned for long-term land use.
Jack Creek Rd | Wildfire Mitigation on a Ranch
and it’s always been about people first. We proudly support organizations that protect, uplift, and remember the wildland firefighters and first responders who put their lives on the line for all of us.
This work started on the fireline—
Giving Back to Those Who Serve
Eric Marsh Foundation
Giving Back to Those Who Serve
Founded in honor of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, the Eric Marsh Foundation helps support hotshot families and advocates for firefighter mental health and survivor support across the country.
Supporting the families of fallen firefighters and those injured in the line of duty, this foundation provides emergency support and long-term care when it’s needed most.
The Wildland Firefighters Foundation
Giving Back to Those Who Serve
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Firebreak Management actually do?
Firebreak Management provides forest management and wildfire mitigation services for landowners in Big Sky, Bozeman, and the surrounding Gallatin area. The work focuses on fuels reduction, defensible space, and long-term forest health, while respecting how each property is lived in and valued. Every project is shaped by terrain, fire behavior, wildlife movement, and the character of the land itself. The goal is a safer, healthier forest that still feels like home.
How is your approach different from traditional wildfire mitigation?
Many wildfire mitigation projects are designed around uniform spacing and rigid outcomes. Firebreak takes a forest stewardship approach that allows for variation, texture, and function across the landscape. Treatments reduce wildfire risk while maintaining ecological diversity, privacy, and visual depth. The result is land that feels intentional and resilient rather than cleared or standardized.
How do you decide what to cut and keep?
Decisions are based on forest health, fire behavior, wildlife habitat, and how different areas of the property function together. Instead of straight lines or one-size-fits-all spacing, Firebreak looks for a mosaic of open areas, denser pockets, maintained edges, and transition zones. Clients are shown best-case scenarios and options, and choices are made collaboratively. The work respects both safety goals and the personal meaning attached to specific trees and places.
Will my property look cleared or manicured after the work?
No. The finished landscape should feel natural, varied, and woven together. Firebreak avoids a manicured or overly uniform look in favor of a forest that supports wildlife, privacy, and visual interest. Favorite trees, quiet corners, and meaningful areas are intentionally considered. Clients often say their property feels calmer and more breathable, without losing character or sanctuary.
Do you work with insurance requirements and defensible space guidelines?
Yes. Firebreak works within defensible space standards and insurance-driven wildfire mitigation requirements throughout the region. This can include documentation and before-and-after photos provided on behalf of clients, including work completed for properties insured through Chubb. These requirements are treated as a baseline, while still allowing flexibility in how the land is shaped and experienced. The goal is coverage, resilience, and continuity, not compromise.
How does this work support long-term or generational land ownership?
Projects are designed with a long view, often thinking in decades rather than seasons. Thoughtful forest management reduces future wildfire risk while making land easier to care for and live with over time. Many clients see this work as a way to pass down land that is functional, beautiful, and intentional rather than overgrown or reactive. It is about stewardship that lasts.
How do we get started?
The process begins with a conversation and a property assessment. This allows Firebreak to understand wildfire risk, forest conditions, and what matters most to the people who live there. From there, recommendations are shaped collaboratively and at a pace that feels right. Projects outside the immediate area are considered on a case-by-case basis.
