Page 17 - Flathead Beacon // 9.16.15

Wildfire Warriors
New Mexico veterans deployed to fight fire in Montana
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
HUNGRY HORSE – The two mili- tary-like vehicles twisted through the parking lot before coming to a stop. The back doors swung open and the warriors emerged from within.
A few years ago, these soldiers may have entered a war zone, but today they’re met with lush green mountains against a crystal clear blue sky. They spent five days on the front lines of the 70,000-acre Bear Creek Fire deep in the Flathead National Forest, and now this group of veteran firefighters was prepar- ing to return home to New Mexico.
Three years ago, the New Mex- ico State Forestry Division created the Returning Heroes Wildland Firefighting Program to help retrain military veter- ans to become firefighters. The pilot pro- gram was so successful that New Mex- ico Gov. Susana Martinez chose to fully fund it in 2014, and this year more than 60 veterans, many who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, are part of the firefighting crew.
Crew boss David Sanchez said the program teaches veterans how to use chainsaws, cut trees and how to dig fire line, among other skills. For firefight- ers like Pablo Lujan, a 34-year-old Navy
The New Mexico State Forestry Division Veteran’s Crew. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
didn’t know how to properly drop a tree. There are other benefits as well, said Tessa Filip, a U.S. Army veteran on crew for three years. She joined because her parents both fought wildfires when they were younger and she loves the outdoors. Being a part of the fire crew has also allowed them the opportunity to travel and see parts of the American West they might not have otherwise visited. Just this summer, Sanchez’s crew (there are currently three Returning Heroes crews) has been deployed to Washington, Ore-
gon, Arizona and Montana.
“When the smoke clears, there has
been some amazing views,” Wayne Ten- orio said about the Montana terrain.
Filip recalled her assignment on a fire in northern California last summer. She said waking up near Yosemite National Park each day was a perk that never got old.
Everyone agreed that the best part of the vet crew is the camaraderie. Tenorio said it’s often hard for non-service mem- bers to understand what soldiers have seen overseas.
“Hanging out with people who have gone through the same experiences as you and seen the same things is great,” he said. “It’s good to be with my own people.”
[email protected]
veteran, the program is a blessing. Before joining the crew, Lujan performed odd jobs installing car stereos or working at call centers. He said there wasn’t much work stateside for someone who special- ized in building bombs.
“Getting a job was tough when I came home because no one needed someone to blow stuff up,” he said, laughing. “What
I found out when I came home is that I didn’t have a lot of skills applicable to a job here at home, but this program is giv- ing me a new opportunity.”
Like Lujan, M.J. Townsend, another Navy veteran, said the program has taught him skills he can apply to a future job, including one in the timber indus- try. Before joining the crew last year, he
DEALER
LOGO AREA
Vehicle’s projected resale value is specific to the 2014 model year. For more information, visit Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. Kelley Blue Book is a regis- tered trademark of Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. • Covers normal factory scheduled service for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. See Toyota dealer for details and exclusions. Valid only in the continental U.S. and Alaska. • Lease a new 2015 RAV4 LE for $179 a month for 24 months with $2,000 down and $2,829 due at signing. Due at signing costs include first month’s payment, $650 acquisition fee and $2,000 down payment. Example based on model #4432C. Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price $25,080. Monthly payments of $179 total $4,296. Net capitalized cost of $23,442 based on down payment and dealer participation, which may vary by dealer. Lease-end purchase option is $19,238.00 • Lease a New 2015 Prius Liftback (Two) for $189 a month for 24 months with $2,660 down and $3,499 due at signing plus $1500 Toyota Financial Services (TFS) Subvention Cash. Due at signing costs include first month’s payment, $650 acquisition fee and $2,660 down payment. Lease includes $1500 TFS subvention cash. Example based on model #1223A. Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price $24,200. Monthly payments of $189 total $4,536. Net capitalized cost of $21,692 based on down payment and dealer participation, which may vary by dealer. Lease end purchase option is $17,165.00 • Lease a New 2015 Corolla LE CVT (Gas) for $149 a month for 24 months with $1,700 down and $2,499 due at signing plus $1000 (TFS) Subvention Cash. Due at signing costs include first month’s payment, $650 acquisition fee and $1,700 down payment. Lease includes $1000 TFS subvention cash. Example based on model #1852E. Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price $18,565. Monthly payments of $149 total $3,576. Net capitalized cost of $16,854 based on down payment and dealer participation, which may vary by dealer. Lease end purchase option is $13,321.00. $1500 New 2015 Prius Liftback (Two) and $1000 New 2015 Corolla LE subvention cash from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) not applicable for cash back offers and must qualify for subvention cash though TFS. Payment may vary depending on final transaction price. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, vary by region and are subject to availability. Security deposit waived. Closed-end lease. $350 disposition fee due at lease end unless customer purchases vehicle or decides to re-finance through TFS. Customer responsible for maintenance, excess wear and tear and $0.15 per mile over 12,000 miles per year. To qualified Tier I+ customers through TFS. Offers good in WA, OR, ID, and MT. For ID and MT state dealerships, a documentary service fee in an amount up to $350 may be added to vehicle price. For Washington state dealerships, a negotiable documentary service fee in an amount up to $150 may be added to sale price or capitalized cost. For Oregon state dealerships, a negotiable documentary service fee in an amount up to $100 may be added to vehicle price. Oregon state dealerships not using an electronic vehicle registration system may only apply fees up to $75 to vehicle price. Does not include taxes, license, title, processing fees, insurance, and dealer charges. See your local participating Toyota dealer for details. Must take retail delivery from dealer stock by 10/5/15.
2845 Hwy. 93 South
Kalispell, MT
406-755-6060 www.kalispelltoyota.com
© 2015 Graham Oleson
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
17