Events

Firefighters to be honored after grueling fire season

Posted: Oct 30, 2012 5:55 PM by Angela Douglas - Q2 News
Updated: Oct 30, 2012 6:05 PM

BILLINGS - This year Montana experienced one of the most severe fire seasons on record, with more than one million acres scorched.

Many of the crews battling the fires this summer were volunteer firefighters and Tuesday night they're being recognized.

It's a gesture that Blue Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Rick Cortez says speaks volumes.

"It takes a whole bunch of commitment on the firefighter's part and their family as well," explained Blue Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Rick Cortez. "We're out on calls, we're woke up all times of the day or night and that involves our family as well."

County commissioners and DES personnel from Carbon, Musselshell, Stillwater, and Yellowstone County will honor nearly 500 local firefighters and their guests at MetraPark's Rimrock Auto Arena.

"The idea was that we've never had the opportunity to recognize our volunteer firefighters and this is the worst fire season we've probably had ever," explained Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund. "They've been away from their jobs, away from their families, and we thought it would be appropriate."

The firefighters will be honored with dinner, gifts, and door prizes Tuesday night, thanks to the nearly fifty businesses that joined forces to help sponsor the event.