PRESS RELEASE
The Heath Rural Fire Department in Fergus County received a new Type 4 wildland fire apparatus recently, as part of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) County Cooperative (Co-op) program.
“The (County) Co-op program has worked excellently for us over the years,” said Pat Weichel Fire District Chief of Heath Rural Fire Department. “It provides us with up-to-date equipment that we would not otherwise be able to afford.”
DNRC’s County Co-op program supports rural, volunteer, and county fire departments across all 56 counties by providing fire equipment, technical assistance and training, at no cost. There are currently 257 County Co-op engines strategically located across Montana.
Building wildland fire engines is part of a strategic effort to bolster Montana’s fire suppression capabilities. During the last legislative session, DNRC was allocated $60 million over the biennium through House Bill 883 to increase the state’s ability to fight fires. Approximately $800,000 of the additional funding was allocated to purchase and build equipment to be distributed through the County Co-op program. This year, 14 new engines were delivered to departments across the state, with Heath’s being the first Type 4 engine built on a brand-new Ford F-600 chassis.
“This particular truck is going to be a good upgrade for us,” said Weichel.
The new engine, fully equipped to provide initial attack on wildland fires with its 900-gallon water tank, will replace a heavily used 2002 water tender, significantly enhancing the department’s capabilities to respond swiftly and effectively to fires in Fergus County and neighboring areas.
“The County Co-op program is the heart and soul of wildland fire protection in the state of Montana, especially eastern Montana where there are fewer state and federal resources,” said David Hamilton, DNRC’s Co-op Fire Program Manager. “We’re protecting 50 million acres of state and private land through the Co-op program. That’s a pretty big deal.”
For more information about the County Co-Op program, visit: https://dnrc.mt.gov/Forestry/Community-Local-Government/county-coop-program