New ambulance, firefighters, come to Havre Fire Department

Havre Fire Department recently purchased a new ambulance and hired three new firefighters to increase efficiency and effectiveness within the department, Havre Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Courtnage said.

Courtnage said the department received the new ambulance Aug. 14 and is working to get it in service. He added that it is the first new ambulance for the department in more than 10 years and has a number of enhanced safety features which will be good for the department.

The department is also going to be decommissioning one of their current ambulances because of its high mileage - more than 152,000 miles.

Chief Mel Paulson said the department doesn't have many options for the old ambulance. Previously, decommissioned ambulances have been given to other agencies such as the police department. He added that the department hopes to get the new ambulance in service before the end of the month. 

The new ambulance is a Ford E Series 5500, with a black over red paint job which matches the departments new fire engine.

"I like it," Paulson said.

Courtnage said the improvements on the new ambulance are not drastic, but important, such as having more structural integrity, a cargo harness, three-point seat belts, LED lights and a monitor stand. Other than that, the ambulance is laid out the same.

"It's a lot safer," he said.

Paulson added that the ambulance also has a number of smaller improvements, given the technological improvements which have been made in the past 10 years.

"We look forward to getting it into service," he said.

Courtnage said the fire department has also made three new hires, getting their staff back up to 17 - 15 firefighters, the assistant chief and chief - which will be a benefit to everyone in the department.

He added that the department has three firefighters per shift and four shifts throughout the day. With a full 17-person staff the department will be able to run efficiently and be more effective. 

"That's the best way to run it," he said.

Paulson said the department also wanted to pick people who were more local to the area to increase retention within the department. He added that, like many other departments across the state, Havre is hurting to get firefighters.

Braden Dieziger, who started at the beginning of this week at the department, is one of the three new firefighters hired. Courtnage said that the other two are still early in the hiring process and will be starting early September.

"They are young, they are eager to learn," he said. "They are doing really well. It keeps the day-to-day fun."

He is impressed with the three new hires and knows that they will be a great addition to the department, he said. He said that the department has Dieziger on 40-hour training, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, so he can get as much training as possible. Every morning from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Dieziger has been working out with the other members in the fire department then spends the rest of his day doing ambulance training and training with the fire truck. Courtnage added that Dieziger was a volunteer firefighter for Lewistown and already has emergency medical technician training and is eager to jump on board with the department.

Dieziger said that he was born and raised in Lewistown. He added that he has been to Havre before to visit friends and moved here because Havre has a good fire department. Dieziger also served in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry for five years, going into the service immediately after high school. 

He said after he got out of the Marines he became a part-paid firefighter in Lewistown. He added that his uncle was the fire chief in Lewistown for a number of years and he is following in his footsteps, plus firefighting for him is fun and is part of what makes his world go round.

Dieziger said he received his EMT training while in Lewistown, but also went through trauma training and other training which translates well to his work as a firefighter. He added that his favorite part at the Havre station is the trucks, getting use to the trucks and running around in the bunker gear.