Kootenai Wildland Firefighter Challenge
by Maggie Craig, LibbyMT.com
June 21, 2013
The Kootenai National Forest hosted a Wildland Firefighter Challenge Saturday, June 15, which was a fundraiser for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. The Challenge, the first to be held in Montana, was staged at the River Bend, which provided a beautiful setting for the challenge events that test participants' skill in wildland firefighting activities. The weather cooperated with blue sky, sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70s.
The Wildland Firefighter Foundation is an organization that had its beginnings in 1994 with a group of volunteers who wanted to develop a national monument to honor wildland firefighters. This goal was realized in 2000, and the Wildland Firefighters National Monument now resides at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
The Foundation was officially formed in 1999, with the mission of helping families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. The group partners with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.
The Challenge was an interagency event for the Northwest Fire Zone (Kootenai/Flathead Forest region). A total of 18 teams initially signed up for the Challenge, but not all could participate due to fire calls just a few days before the event. Remaining to take part were teams from the Kootenai and Flathead National Forests, state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Glacier National Park. Nine teams participated in the Foundation events, which included chainsaw assembly, and hosepack, hose butterfly, hose coupler, and progressive hoselay challenges. Fourteen teams tried the amusement challenge events which included ax throw, slingshot, golf chip shot, horseshoe toss and archery shoot.
The Glacier National Park crew placed first in the Firefighter Challenge events, taking home the roving trophy. The tentative plan is for the Flathead Forest to possibly host next year’ challenge, alternating between the Kootenai and Flathead Forests in successive years.
In addition to entry fees paid by the teams, the event also featured silent and live auctions, raffles, a dinner and dancing by the river with music provided by the Meadow Blasters (Dave Blackburn and crew). The event raised an impressive $13,000+ for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.
For more information about the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, visit their web site at wffoundation.org, or call Janette Turk at (406) 283-7764.
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