Montanans help fight against fires

By JIM MANN/The Daily Inter Lake

A contingent of Northwest Montana firefighting contractors is en route to southern California to join the warlike fight against wildfires that have charred more than 4,000 acres and 1,500 homes.

The National Interagency Fire Center requested 10 engines Wednesday night, and by Thursday morning eight were on their way, said Leonard Oftedahl, a Kalispell contractor who is also northwest regional president of the National Wildfire Suppression Association.

"Sometime Saturday morning they'll be crossing the California border," Oftedahl said. "They'll send them north, south, wherever they need them."

Oftedahl sent one engine with his father, Melvin, as engine boss. Others to be dispatched included three engines from Flying Eagle Ranch in Hungry Horse; one engine from Work Horse, a Columbia Falls company; one from Husky Fire, a contract located near Hubbart Reservoir; and one from Fires-R-Us, a Eureka company.

The contractors sent Type III engines, which are heavy work trucks fitted with 500 to 600 gallon water tanks, high pressure pumps and a capacity for applying fire-resistant foams and gels. The crews are also equipped with chain saws and are trained to clear brush and remove other flammable materials for "triage" structure protection.

Oftedahl said it has been a busy and protracted fire season for most contractors in the region. While California is different country with fires driven by resin-loaded chaparral brush, it is not new to Oftedahl and other Montana contractors.

Oftedahl said he had equipment and people on four California fires earlier in the season, and other local contractors were on those same fires. Many contractors were also active on the large project fires in Northwest Montana this summer.

The National Wildfire Suppression Association is a coalition of private contractors that works closely with government firefighting agencies.

"There's a big network that most people don't see or they aren't aware of," he said. "It's kind of cool how the system works. There's a lot of equipment signed up."

Oftedahl said there is no telling how long Montana contractors will be at work in California.

"There have been times where you go down there and work a day or two and then they send you back," he said.

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