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Some criticize state handling of East Fork Fire

Area ranchers and volunteers who fought the East Fork Fire criticized The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation at a meeting in Montana State University-Northern's Hensler Auditorium Thursday night.

East Fork Fire incident commander Don Pyrah of DNRC said this morning that he was not notified about the meeting until 10 a.m. Thursday.

Because he had previous commitments to help rostered volunteer firefighters and owners of eligible equipment used in the fire fill out paperwork to be reimbursed by the DNRC, he was unable to attend the meeting and respond to the issues raised, Pyrah said. He said that he was continuing to work on the fire this morning, including demobilizing many of the units at the fire, so he could not take the time to respond in depth today.

Pyrah told the Havre Daily News that by this weekend he should have time to go over the concerns raised. Watch for his interview in an upcoming edition.

Former state legislator and retired local rancher Bob Sivertsen organized and led the meeting. He told the audience that the meeting was meant to clear up misinformation and to discuss how certain issues that arose from the response to the fire can be improved upon. Sivertsen said that in the next two weeks he hopes to have discussions about some of the concerns raised and then schedule another meeting.

The East Fork Fire began the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 27, near the East Fork Reservoir on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. The blaze eventually consumed 21,896 acres in Hill and Blaine counties, and as of this morning is 95 percent contained, the Incident Report says.

Bear Paw rancher David Molitor began the meeting by saying volunteers and fire departments from across the country did "a hell of a job" in helping fight the fire.

He added that he was  "really, really, really, really, agitated" about rumors that Rocky Boy did not help fight the fire.

"I was there from the get go and they didn't let go. They were fighting right alongside everybody else," Molitor said.

Bob Molitor, who fought the fire, said the blaze would have been less severe if the DNRC provided adequate water support.

He said that at one point he had a water truck behind him as he was fighting the fire, but the truck was soon ordered to pull out.

"They left me out there on my own. I don''t have no water support, I don't have no radio, I don't know what is going on," Molitor said.

He added that he thinks things have reached a point where either DNRC changes its policies or farmers and ranchers have to tell the DNRC "we don't want you here anymore."

David Molitor said that instead of fighting the fire, people were ordered to "fall back" due to safety concerns and attend meetings about what could be done the next day to fend off the fire.

"Fire doesn't wait, it does its best work at night," Molitor said.

He later said while no piece of land or timber is worth a human life, there has to be some risk if there is to be safety for everyone.

Sivertsen said he often went to meetings held by Emergency Incident Command because he wanted to know what was going on. He said there were times when bureaucrats would be having meetings trying to figure out what to do, while ranchers and "boots on the ground" weren't at the meeting because they were out  fighting the fire.

Sivertsen said he has spoken with people involved in the Lodgepole fire that raged south of the Missouri River and the Lolo Peak Fire, and they had similar issues.

"There is something wrong when you get up at 6 in the morning, have a meeting at 7 and  you get out to the fire at 10," he said. "There is something wrong with that folks."

Shane Barrett of the Bear Paw Volunteer Firefighters said rather than holding the meetings at 7 a.m when the sun is out, the meetings should have been held at 4 a.m., so crews could get out and fight the fire when the sun was just coming out  so when the sun comes up, firefighters are on the front lines.

"When it's cool that is the best chance of doing anything, not when it is 85 degrees in the heat of the day with 30 mile an hour wind," Barrett said.

"There are some issues that we need to sit and speak with DNRC about, and some very serious issues," Sivertsen said.

A lack of communications was another issue raised.

Bill Bradbury, a rancher in the Bear Paws, said there was a lot of false information posted on Facebook.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson, at the meeting, said a lot of what was posted on Facebook was inaccurate. Emergency Incident Command used the Hill County Health Department Facebook page to get information out and that was the only  page with official news related to the fire, he said.

The location of the fire caused communications difficulties, Peterson said.

"We were trying to supply things to you the fighters, but you couldn't get to us to tell us what you needed, Peterson said. "Half of you were there so busy doing things that you couldn't even talk about what you needed, you were trying to work with what you had."

Barrett said crews from the Wildhorse and Kremlin Fire Departments were on the scene were there the whole time which was "a huge deal" for Bear Paw.

He said firefighters from Blaine County wanted to come but couldn't while it was in Hill County.

Barrett said that is something that needs to be worked on.

"This fire changed rapidly and, yes, we probably should have called Blaine County sooner," Peterson said.

He added that Hill and Blaine counties have fought fires in the past and have worked "very, very well together."

Misty Kuhl, a staff member for U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., said she was called on by Sivertsen to speak. Kuhl said she was heard leaders say that they had  never seen a fire fought with so many volunteers and communities coming together.

Kuhl said she has the opportunity to talk with ranchers and said she wants people to know Gianforte is listening to them.

She said people can contact her at [email protected] or by phone at 406-301-3666.

Sivertseon said representatives from the offices of Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines were invited but did not attend. He did not say when they were invited.

Peterson said he has been in contact with all three members of  Montana's congressional delegation, sometimes as much as five times a day.

He said all farmers, ranchers and property owners who has damage from the fire should notify him about it. Peterson said doing so would help Montana's congressional delegation "make a case for us."

 

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