Custer County commissioners get update on Aspen Acres fire; approve $5,000 donation to sheriff posse

Custer County commissioners began their July 15 meeting with a detailed update on the Aspen Acres wildfire and moved to formalize emergency funding and donations to support response efforts. An incident commander transfer and multiple resource changes are already under way.

“Right now the fire is at 99,000 just over 99,000 acres. Containment’s at 36. Total personnel is 1,767,” a county official reported during the meeting. The board also noted that the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 6 had assumed command and that the Alaska team was being relieved and rotated out of the incident.

Chair Bill Candid told the board the U.S. Forest Service established a heliport near Custer Camp to speed helicopter water runs to the fire, and staff described options for a longer-term, five-year hosting agreement to support future incidents. County road and bridge crews repeatedly shifted priority work and water-hauling equipment to fire response, hauling multiple loads from Lake Louise to support containment efforts.

The board adopted Resolution 26-34 to recognize receipt of $5,000 from the Elkmore Foundation, described in the meeting as a wildland fire fund grant/donation to replace sheriff posse equipment used on the incident. They then adopted Resolution 26-35 to appropriate that $5,000 into the sheriff’s posse operations account, increasing the line to $17,000.

Vernon, the county official who presented the grant details, said volunteer and posse hours are being logged carefully because donated hours serve as part of the match used to reduce county exposure and increase potential federal reimbursement. Staff described the federal/state reimbursement process and said volunteer hours and a 214 activity log would be compiled to document match and costs.

The board discussed equipment needs raised during the meeting, including a request to evaluate purchasing an 8,000‑gallon tractor‑trailer water tanker to shorten turnaround times hauling water to remote road segments. Chair Candid said the county will examine that capital purchase as a potential investment to support firefighting logistics.

The meeting closed that item with the board agreeing staff would bring a budget resolution at the next meeting to replenish emergency contingency funds taken to cover firefighting expenses.

Next steps: staff will finalize the contingency/appropriation paperwork and continue compiling activity logs and volunteer-hour documentation for future reimbursement submissions.