FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jerry Buhre, Area Fire Program Manager
Montana DNRC Northeastern Land Office
Lewistown, MT (406) 538-7789
May 13, 2008
Fergus, Blaine counties receiving new wildland fire engines from DNRC
LEWISTOWN, Mont. – Wildland firefighting operations in Blaine and Fergus counties will get a major boost on Friday, May 16, when the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) delivers a pair of brand new wildland fire engines to county officials.
The handing over of the keys is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16, at the Yogo Inn in Lewistown. The ceremony will take place prior to the start of the Interim Fire Suppression Committee hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
"Both engines are 2008 Ford F-450s equipped with 300 gallon tanks and foam capabilities," said Jerry Buhre, DNRC Area Fire Program Manager. "They will replace 1985 Type-6 engines with 200 gallon tanks that were refurbished by DNRC's Equipment Development Shop and have been in operation by the counties for five to eight years."
The older engines will be transferred to Roosevelt County, where they will replace two military M-715 Jeep engines that are 40 years old, Buhre said.
The new rigs (as well as the refurbished models) are provided through the State and County Cooperative Fire Program. Founded in 1967, the program is an agreement between DNRC and all 56 Montana counties to maintain critical wildland firefighting equipment, organization and readiness. DNRC provides the funding for equipment and assists with training, while the counties in return assume initial attack responsibilities on all state and private lands within their jurisdiction. DNRC also provides fire suppression assistance on fires that exceed the county's capability.
According to DNRC Fire and Aviation Bureau Chief Ted Mead, the Department builds 20 engines each year for the Coop program at a cost of $40,000 per engine, which includes shop labor at DNRC's Equipment Development Center in Missoula. "We build these vehicles to the very highest standards – the lives of firefighters depend upon it," Mead said.
For more information on the State and County Cooperative Fire Program, log onto the DNRC Web site at www.dnrc.mt.gov.
###DNRC###
John Grassy
Public Information Officer
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
(406) 444-0465
