Montana Tribe Donates $2,500 to Each County Fire Crew

When your firefighting gear costs as much as a used car, every dollar counts.

Every volunteer fire department in Lake County, Montana received a $2,500 donation from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and S&K Gaming this week. The funding addresses a critical need: firefighting equipment is expensive, and volunteer departments rarely have the budget to keep up.

Paul Adams has volunteered with the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department for more than a decade. He knows the challenge well.

"To be a volunteer firefighter, you're willing to get up anytime, day or night, and respond to somebody's worst day," Adams said. "The gear is outrageously expensive. If it says fire on it, it's expensive."

A full set of firefighting gear costs around $10,000 per firefighter. With 23 volunteers on his crew, keeping everyone properly equipped is nearly impossible on a limited budget.

Worn or damaged gear puts firefighters at serious risk. "If you rip it or it degrades over time, you have a lot less protection in a structure fire," Adams explained.

Robert McCrea with the CSKT Division of Fire says volunteer departments are essential partners across the reservation's 1.3 million acres. "Those local VFDs, they just help. They have a quick response," he said.

The Ripple Effect

The donation represents more than financial support. It reflects an ongoing partnership between tribal and volunteer fire agencies that includes regular training opportunities and coordinated emergency response.

"They deal with a lot of different things, not only wildfire but house fires, car accidents," McCrea said. "We try to give them trainings on the wildfire end to put more tools in their toolbox."

The St. Ignatius department plans to use its donation to purchase fire-resistant coveralls and crash helmets. These items will protect volunteers who respond to everything from wildfires to vehicle accidents without pay.

Adams says the sacrifices come with the territory. "It's worth it to be there on somebody's worst day and to help them out of it."