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Commissioners sign DNRC fire grants, county fire managers report fuel-reduction and community outreach plans
Summary
Flathead County Commissioners approved a DNRC Volunteer Fire Assistance pass-through grant and a DNRC cooperative fire support agreement; county fire managers outlined outreach, fuel reduction projects at county parks and coordination with hotshot crews and home-owner associations ahead of a dry season.
The Flathead County Commission on Tuesday signed a DNRC Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) pass-through grant and a cooperative fire support agreement, measures county officials said will help equip volunteer fire districts and enable reimbursement for county resources used during larger wildland incidents.
Lincoln Chute, fire service area manager, described the VFA agreement as a pass-through grant that provides personal protective equipment, pumps and hoses to volunteer fire districts; he said most local districts are roughly 80% volunteer. “This is a pass through grant… it’s strictly a pass through grant,” Chute told commissioners.
The commission approved the document for signature (DNRC VFA agreement VFA-25-620) by voice vote. The board later approved a DNRC cooperative fire support agreement that allows county departments (for example road and bridge) to be used under an Option 3 arrangement, in which the county submits a bill at the hourly rate (including retirement and all labor costs) when resources are requested.
Lincoln Jewett, fire service area manager, and other county emergency officials described outreach and fuel-reduction work planned for the season. Jewett said staff have been briefing homeowner associations on home ignition-zone work and that a Minne Lakes fuel-reduction grant under development could cover roughly 50 to 75 acres locally while another grant application could cover about 100 acres. He said the county is supporting fuel reduction at Moonee Lakes and thinning at Heron Park to reduce low-intensity fire risk.
Jewett said the county will accelerate preparedness meetings and readiness checks because of an unusually dry spring and early warming and noted coordination with the Bridal County hotshot crew based in Hungry Horse for structure-protection guidance.
The commission also approved a professional services contract for a medical director for EMS and heard a separate EMS training report (see separate article).
