Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners hear criticism of wildfire response coordination and landowner contact after large blaze
Summary
Commissioners and the fire warden reviewed a recent Treasure County wildfire and identified gaps: delayed dispatch/landowner contact, lack of a centralized contact list for absentee landowners, and patchy radio coverage; leaders urged pre-season planning and better local coordination.
A lengthy discussion of a recent large wildfire occupied the Treasure County meeting on Aug. 19, as the fire warden described response challenges and urged the commission to improve pre‑season coordination.
Brent (identified in the record as the local fire warden) recounted the incident, saying the fire initially started Friday night, developed into a 50–90 acre event, and ultimately required DNRC and mutual aid. "When I got on scene it was way more than four people could safely handle," he said, describing how limited local resources and dense smoke complicated access. He said there was confusion about who had been notified and whether landowners or lessees were on-site when the fire began.
The warden and commissioners agreed the county needs a better contact list for absentee landowners or lessees and clearer radio channels so private landowners and mutual-aid crews can coordinate. Commissioners said county offices (treasurer/clerk) have property-owner records that could be used to build a contacts database and suggested using the new community building and spring outreach to organize landowner reps for next season.
No formal action was taken at the meeting, but the warden said he would work with dispatch and county staff to compile contacts and review radio-channel options. Commissioners also discussed mutual-aid agreements, water resources, and the importance of community-level preparedness if state resources are delayed during peak fire activity.
Next step: chief/warden and DES coordinator to draft a contacts list and radio-channel proposal for the commission to review before next fire season.
