A volunteer firefighter arriving at the Heart Butte Fire Department Aug. 8 to prepare the engines for a parade was met with a surprise – the rural department fire hall’s rear door had been broken. Inside, engines, equipment and parts of the building were damaged. Most of the firefighters’ gear, PPE and hand tools had disappeared, the engines were damaged to the point of being unable to start, and cabinet doors were hanging loosely on broken hinges in the ransacked hall. Blackfeet Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
Marti Rutherford, fire chief for Blackfeet Fire Rescue which oversees Browning and Heart Butte fire departments along with search and rescue, posted on Facebook the following day, absorbing the shock waves of damaged equipment in the midst of the wildfire season.
“To the average person, much of this equipment is difficult to resell or even use,” she said. “So why steal and destroy equipment that exists for one purpose: to protect and save lives? Our engines were damaged and will be out of service until we can determine what repairs are needed and find the financial resources and manpower to complete them. This could not have happened at a worse time, as we are in the middle of wildland fire season and need to be fully operational.”
On the Blackfeet Nation, Heart Butte Fire Department’s only funding comes from the tribe at $10,000 annually. The funds keep the fire hall operational, while Browning helps the station with mechanical repairs and equipment replacement, despite also only operating on an approximately $40,000 budget. Rutherford said the department has been inactive since the incident as all three of the department’s engines were damaged, with the Browning department covering the Heart Butte area.
An outpouring of support online and in the community has given the Heart Butte volunteer firefighters hope, however. A Pampered Chef Fundraiser and raffles in Helena and Shelby, respectively, are both seeking to raise money for the department. Wednesday morning, the Shelby Fire Department donated some of their old equipment to Heart Butte. After many requests from the community and online for a place to send money, Blackfeet Fire Rescue opened an account at Stockman Bank. Rutherford said people can call and ask to donate money to the account under the fire rescue’s name.
“The outpouring of support has been so immense,” Rutherford said. “I don’t even know what words I can put with that. I thought we’d be stuck for years, and here I am today and I have a glimmer of hope.”
Rutherford said with the donations they hope to have enough gear put together and an engine back online by Friday.
Zoë Buhrmaster here. Let’s peer into the rest of today’s roundup.
Family Remembers Rex Schowengerdt After Fatal Rockfall in Glacier National Park
The family has set up a fundraiser to help cover expenses tied to the accident and its aftermath, including medical bills, funeral costs, and other unexpected financial burdens
As Withdrawal Deadline Comes to a Close in Senate Race, Bankhead and Bodnar Both Commit to Staying the Course
The Democrat’s Monday pledge to remain in the race offered a final word on the dropout question, eliciting a mixed response from left-leaning voters in the Flathead as the divide clears a path for Republican Kurt Alme to hold onto Montana's open Senate seat.
Flathead County Air Quality Alert Remains With Some Relief on the Horizon
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks restrictions also remain in effect in Lake County. Crews have made progress on the Skillet Fire, which was at 28% containment as of Tuesday morning.
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