Firefighter challenge June 6

The Wildland Firefighters Foundation’s roots go back to 1994. Following the Storm King Fire tragedy in Colorado that took the lives of 14 firefighters the organization began taking shape with plans to develop a national monument to honor the brave men and women that battle wildland fires.

An Idaho-based non-profit organization, the foundation’s main source of funding comes from events like the Third Annual Kootenai Wildland Firefighter Challenge & Fire Safe Expo.

“We don’t take any government money,” said foundation director Burk Minor. “Because we don’t want to be told when and where we can spend our funds.”

In a job with implicit dangers where injuries and fatalities are a fact life, Minor said anything that impedes the aid they provide is unacceptable.

A Wildland Firefighter Monument was built by the foundation in 2000 at the National Interagency Fire Center, in Boise, Idaho and was the first of its kind to recognize the efforts of all wildland firefighters. In 1999, the foundation earned non-profit status with the focus of helping families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families around the globe.

The Kootenai challenge is an interagency fundraising event for the Northwest Fire Zone and includes firefighters from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Tribal, Idaho Panhandle, local departments and other teams. A total of 20 teams can sign up for the challenge. Participants will be involved in numerous events, including chainsaw assembly, hose packing, hose butterfly, hose coupler, and progressive hose lay challenges. Teams also have the opportunity to take on amusement challenge events, which include ax throw, slingshot, golf chip shot, horseshoe toss and archery shoot.

Last year as he strolled through the event, Minor was inspired by the dedication of the participants. “Seeing the guys sweating and working their butts off on their day off was amazing. They’re prime examples of Montana wildland firefighters.”

The Expo side of the event is about public education with demonstrations, displays, kid’s activities, fire trucks and perhaps a helicopter. It is a fair like atmosphere with plenty to do for the whole family including food and beverage vendors on site. 

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, June 6, at J. Neils Park starting at 10 a.m. and is free to the public. Last year the community donated $8,000 during the event to honor past, present, and future wildland firefighters.

Minor said the work of Mark Peck was instrumental in making the fire challenge happen. “He hasn’t been involved in fire for some time now and he continues to work for fire fighters,” he said. “He’s got a heart as big as Montana for the wildland firefighters out there.”