Saturday, August 07, 2004
Lightning strike sets haystack ablaze
   Roy Anderson's hay burns--worth $25,000

The fire reflected in one of three fire engines the St. Ignatius Fire Department took to the fire. More photos. . .

The lightning strikes were fierce and frequent Friday night, the long streaks of light reaching the ground repeatedly to the west and north as well as locally. The best guess is that lightning was the culprit that set Roy Anderson's haystack on fire, destroying $25,000 worth of hay. The hay was dry, so spontaneous combustion seemed unlikely. After Anderson got irrigation water running which he could use to control the fire, the fire department left (at 3:30 AM) the stack to burn.
Posted by Michael L Umphrey
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    Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Help is on the way (as strange as that seems)
   Grant sought to help attract ambulance volunteers

Help is on the way. Maybe.

Montana is among 10 finalists for a federal grant that would provide $120,000 a year for three years to pay for EMT training, equipment and other needs. No mention is made of how the money would be spent.

Since the feds have already agreed to send Montana $75,000 to track response times (but nothing to improve them--people hurt want an ambulance but central office types want information--so, we get information) it’s hard to guess what will be funded.

I’ve long been a bit annoyed that state government in Montana provides no real help to volunteer ambulances. What they provide is compliance monitoring--counting safety pins in our jump kit and making sure our forms are tidy. Admittedly, this has its place. But. . .

Most interesting for the long-term health of rural EMS is the proposal to treat EMTs like firemen, allowing them to earn a small retirement after 20 years of service. Too late for me (I hope), but a worthwhile idea.

Posted by Michael L Umphrey
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    Sunday, August 01, 2004
Diamond Horseshoe story picked up nationally
   Local EMS story featured in nation's major newspapers
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AP photo of the Diamond Horseshoe balcony.

The story was picked up across the nation, including USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, MSNBC, the Chicago Sun Times, and the Houston Chronicle
Posted by Michael L Umphrey
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52 people injured
   CNN reports on Diamond Horseshoe disaster
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St. Ignatius EMTs Shantell Frame and Darin Incashola outside the Diamond Horseshoe early Saturday morning.

According to CNN, fifty-two people were injured when a deck collapsed at a Montana casino, including four people with "life-threatening" injuries. Polson, Montana, Fire Chief Tom Maloney said the call about the deck collapse at the Diamond Horseshoe casino came in just before midnight Friday. "We airlifted four folks to Missoula and Kalispell," Maloney said. The other injured persons either were taken or took themselves to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Polson. In addition to those with life-threatening injuries, Maloney said three more had serious injuries. He said the cause of the 14-foot high deck's collapse is still under investigation.
Posted by Michael L Umphrey
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Incidents: Flathead Agency

Reservation Fire News

  • Deep Draw Update August 17 (Deep Draw) Saturday the Deep Draw fire exhibited minimal fire behavior, largely smoldering and creeping, occasionally burning of pockets of trees inside the fire line. Crews continued to make good progress holding and mopping up hot spots inside the fireline. Palm IR's, or handheld infrared heat sensors, were used to help identify the areas with heat. The hot and dry weather is providing an excellent test of the firelines. Equipment and crews continued opening up access roads. Crews and equipment cleared, brushed or constructed over 62 miles of fireline in the course of the week's work fighting this fire-of that total, 43 miles were indirect contingency firelines.Plans for Sunday include rehabilitating roads that have been opened. Slash consisting of brush and cut logs will be piled alongside these roads. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up hot spots along the fireline.Sunday is expected to be hot and dry with temperatures in the low 90's. Winds are predicted to be light,...

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