Former Oregon hotshots help quell Libby blaze

Paul and Ericka Hartley fought much bigger fires when they were members of the Zigzag Hotshot crew in Oregon many years ago.

But what happens when the flames come lapping at the door step?

The couple, who have lived in Libby since 2017, were more than prepared to tackle a little wildfire, caused by a powerline issue, early Wednesday evening off the edge of Rawlings Road, off Kooteani River Road.

“We smelled the smoke, looked and saw the fire,” Ericka said. “We grabbed the rakes and had it pretty much contained.”

A mail carrier got in on the action, too, when he jumped out and used his fire extinguisher before crews from the Kootenai National Forest and Libby Volunteer Fire Department arrived to finish off the small blaze.

One firefighter who was not there was the Hartley’s son, Connor. He was on another fire that got going in the county Wednesday, possibly the Sheep Mountain Fire, a bit southeast of the peak and several miles east of Highway 37.

While it’s been a relatively quiet fire season in northwest Montana, several lightning strikes late Tuesday and early Wednesday possibly spawned some new fires.

The Zigzag Hotshots are based on the Mt. Hood National Forest. Competition for a spot on the team is serious business, limited to the most highly motivated and physically fit individuals. All other activities are set aside to respond to all-risk incidents.

The Zigzags will celebrate their 50th birthday next year with a celebration planned for May 9-11.

On the teams’ history page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/zigzag/history, readers will learn that Superintendent Lee Englesby led the crew based out of Snow Bunny Lodge, east of Government Camp. In 1976, the crew moved to the Boy Scout’s White River Lodge.

Under Roddy Baumann’s leadership in 1977-1978, the crew transitioned into a 20-person inter-region fire team, called the Mt. Hood IR Crew. In 1979, the crew became the Zigzag Interagency Hotshot Crew. A pioneering woman firefighter, Kimberly Brandel, was the first female member on the Zigzag Hotshots.  

That same year, Paul Gleason became the hotshot crews' second superintendent. While serving as superintendent, Gleason developed the Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes and Safety Zones (LCES) national safety program. While cancer claimed Gleason’s life in 2003, his national wildland fire legacy continues to burn bright. 

In 1991, Gina Papke took over the Zigzag Hotshot leadership becoming the first female interagency hotshot crew superintendent in the nation. Papke served as superintendent through the 2000 fire season.   

Diego Mendiola, who was born and raised on the island of Saipan and later spent 14 years on the Mendocino Interagency Hotshot Crew in California, replaced her. Mendiola served as Zigzag Interagency Hotshot Crew superintendent until 2016.  He retired as the longest tenured superintendent in the Zigzag’s proud history. In 2018, Devin Parks accepted the superintendent position and continues to run the crew as a hard working and inclusive program.

The crew still barracks in the original, refurbished Summit Bunkhouse that held that special Zigzag firefighting team more than half a century ago.

    Kootenai National Forest fire fighters dig a line around a small fire early Wednesday evening on Rawlings Road just outside Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A Flathead Electric worker checks a line on a pole above a small fire early Wednesday evening on Rawlings Road just outside Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Crews from the Kootenai National Forest, Libby Volunteer Fire Department and Flathead Electric tended to a small fire early Wednesday evening on Rawlings Road just outside Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)