Fire agencies streamline initial attacks

Federal, state, county and local fire-protection agencies are establishing a unified effort to streamline and coordinate aggressive initial responses to new fires in Northwest Montana.

The unified command for initial attack will include staging firefighters, engines and other equipment at strategic locations to shave down response times on new fires.

"Any fire start we get, we're going to dog pile it," said Bob Sandman, area manager for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

There is always an ongoing level of cooperation between fire protection outfits, but the unified command for initial attack will include improved communications, operations and logistics to support initial responders. And the unified command is relying heavily on Flathead County volunteer fire departments and, by extension, the people who employ volunteer firefighters in their regular jobs.

"We need the business community's support, because this involves volunteer fire departments," Sandman said. "We're wanting to not only thank them for that, but to look for continued support for their employees to go out and fight these fires."

Rather than responding from work after their beepers sound, some volunteer firefighters will be positioned across the county for initial-attack purposes.

"I believe it's somewhat unique what we are doing here," said Creston fire Chief Gary Mayhew. "It shows good partnerships, and employers are certainly part of those partnerships."

Mayhew noted that Flathead County's rural and city firefighters also are supporting the larger project fires, providing structure protection at the Brush Creek and Chippy Creek fires.

Fire departments eventually are paid for the use of their equipment from state and federal funding sources, and firefighters are also paid for special assignments. But those costs typically aren't sorted out until fire season ends.

"This is about doing the right things for the right reasons right now," Mayhew said. "Given our current fire conditions, initial attack on these fires is absolutely critical."

Sandman said the effort was prompted by the explosive fire conditions, and "the resistance to control we're seeing."

Supplementary firefighters, engines and aircraft from outside the are also are being coordinated through the unified command.

The "dog pile" approach was on display Tuesday after afternoon lightning touched off seven fires on northern end of the Mission Mountains, south of Bigfork.

An engine crew from Arizona that has been staged specifically for initial-attack duties was part of the response, along with a Montana National Guard Blackhawk helicopter.

On Wednesday, smokejumpers from Missoula were dropped on the fires, and firefighters who specialize in rappelling from a helicopter were called in from a fire on the East Front to help out.

Six of the fires were held at less than an acre and one grew to 5 acres but was expected to be handled by Wednesday night.

"They were all small fires, and initial attack has been successful," said Denise Germann, public affairs officer for the Flathead National Forest.

"We're going to do our best to dog pile every start," said Sandman, who said potential still exists for fires to escape. "Under certain circumstances, we could throw everything we can at a start and still not catch it."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com