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Around Montana
Clancy fire fee increase approved for department expansion
https://www.montanarightnow.com/helena/clancy-fire-fee-increase-approved-for-department-expansion/article_db510309-7247-48c5-b807-c004a414235a.html
A new funding plan for the Clancy Volunteer Fire Department moves ahead after county commissioners approved higher fees for residents. Michael Santoscoy NonStop Local Reporter
Michael Santoscoy NonStop Local Reporter
BOULDER, Mont. — A new funding plan for the Clancy Volunteer Fire Department moves ahead after county commissioners approved higher fees for residents.
The approval cleared the way for the department to move ahead with a building expansion and seek financing for the project. Department leaders said the effort took nearly a year of public hearings and community outreach to reach this point.
Chief Kevin Harris said the department spent that time building support in Clancy and bringing its proposal before county leaders.
"Thank you to our public for supporting us and coming to our meetings and saying their gratitude for what we do. Our trustees believe in our vision and supported us to go in front of the commissioners," Harris said.
Not everyone supported the increase. Some Jefferson County residents questioned what taxpayers would get in return for paying more each month.
"I’m kind of seeing this as more money. We want more money; we want more money. Then what are you providing for us? If you’re having a lot of structure fires and you don’t have a phone truck, if you have a lot of wildland fires then are we preparing for that? What’s this building going to do for us as taxpayers?" a Jefferson County resident said.
Fire department leaders explained that their budget has not kept pace with inflation for new trucks and equipment. They said that gap led to the fee proposal.
Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch said the department faces limits that other agencies do not.
"They can’t keep up with the growth because the other department’s evaluations go up and their revenue goes up. These guys don’t. It's flat all the time. Whether revenue or evaluations go up or not. So, they have to come in every so often to keep up with the cost of doing business," Kirsch said.
Under the plan, the fire service fee rose by $10 per house each month. That changed the yearly cost from $145 to $265 per home.
Department leaders said the added revenue will help keep operations going and pay for an expansion to the current facility. Officials said the project will help reduce response times, improve local safety ratings and provide a centralized safe gathering point during large-scale emergencies.
With the proposal approved, the department could go to a lending institution for a loan, complete building drawings, put the project out for bid and begin construction next year.
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Pickup and ATV trailer go airborne in I-15 crash near Red Rock Exit in Beaverhead County
https://www.southwesternmontananews.com/post/pickup-and-atv-trailer-go-airborne-in-i-15-crash-near-red-rock-exit
BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, Mont. — A driver was transported to the hospital Monday afternoon after a pickup pulling a trailer carrying two four-wheelers left Interstate 15 near mile marker 39, just before the Red Rock exit.
The pickup was traveling northbound on I-15 when the driver appeared to have fallen asleep, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a guardrail.
After hitting the guardrail, the pickup and trailer traveled over the embankment before the truck struck a pile of dirt that acted as a ramp. The pickup then became airborne and cleared the roadway running beneath the interstate off-ramp before crashing into an embankment on the opposite side.
When first responders arrived, the driver was already out of the vehicle and walking around. The driver had lacerations to the head and was evaluated by emergency medical personnel at the scene.
The driver was subsequently transported by ambulance to the hospital for further evaluation.
No additional information was immediately available regarding the driver's condition.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the apparent possibility that the driver fell asleep has not been confirmed by investigating authorities.
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Gardiner Buffalo Days assists fire station
https://www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/news/state/gardiner-buffalo-days-assists-fire-station/article_54bda8c9-7038-5325-94b6-fe315ff41e35.html
The mechanical bison ride provided by Belgrade-based Jaime Schmidt was popular at the Buffalo Days event in Gardiner on Sept. 12. Liz Kearney
Liz Keanney, Adams MultiMedia
GARDINER — Buffalo Days returned to Gardiner this past weekend.
A once annual event that had fallen off in recent years was re-ignited by Gardiner businesswoman Stacey Orsted, who owns Wonderland Cafe & Lodge, located on the town’s Main St.
The street-based event raises funds for the local all-volunteer Gardiner-based Gateway Hose Company. The fire and ambulance service runs on 22 “incredible volunteers,” said the company’s long-time EMS Coordinator, Jo Lynn.
“And we’re always looking for more volunteers,” she said
Gateway Hose makes between 125-150 ambulance calls a year, which are mostly transports to medical care, Lynn said. And they make about 30-40 fire calls.
The organization is funded through Park County and property taxes, and they often apply for Gardiner Resort tax funds, Lynn added.
Gateway Hose has mutual aid agreements with other Park County fire departments and the Yellowstone National Park, with whom they train often, Lynn said.
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Town Pump pushes grants for volunteer firefighters to $1.2 million with funds going to the Chinook Fire Department
https://www.blainecountyjournal.com/story/2026/09/09/news/town-pump-pushes-grants-for-volunteer-firefighters-to-12-million/11736.html
Bill McGladdery, Town Pump, 497-6700
The Town Pump Charitable Foundation has provided grants totaling nearly $1.2 million to 81 volunteer firefighting groups across Montana this summer, including one serving the Chinook area.
The total was about $425,000 more than the Foundation originally planned to provide, but following overwhelming response to the grant offer, the Foundation increased its grant budget. The grants will be used for a variety of life-saving equipment, including turnouts (fire-safety suits), SCBAs (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), rescue equipment, pumps, and automated external defibrillators and training.
In the Chinook area, the Chinook Fire Department received $17,100 for communications equipment.
"We appreciate the commitment of volunteer fire fighters across Montana,” said Bill McGladdery, director of corporate communications for Town Pump. “Their needs for personal protective equipment, SCBAs, training resources and other equipment were greater than what we had originally forecasted. We hope that these grant funds to volunteer fire departments will help strengthen our Montana communities.”
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Firefighters reflect on 9/11 search at ground zero
https://vp-mi.com/news/2026/sep/16/firefighters-reflect-on-911-search-at-ground-zero-/
Mike McGuirk holds up a newspaper showing the photograph of him in the lower left during rescue efforts at ground zero following the attacks on New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. McGuirk attended the 9-11 commemoration at the Superior Fire Hall. (Cecilia Moats photo)
by BRUCE MOATS Mineral Independent
| September 16, 2026 12:00 AM
Two fighter jets escorted Mike McGuirk and his fellow members of FEMA rescue taskforce as they flew across the country to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.
McGuirk attended the remembrance of the attacks at the Superior Fire Hall on Friday, Sept. 11. He was not the only one in attendance who joined the rescue efforts. Mike Lally, a captain with the Superior Fire Department, was deputy chief of a rescue team from Dayton, Ohio. Both men were tasked with searching the rubble for survivors and conducting recovery work. They said that the days were so busy that the rescue workers had little time to think or feel. But then came a silent time to reflect on their work.
“After three days, you get a shower. You are in the shower and you are all alone, and then you just break down,” McGuirk said.
McGuirk’s FEMA Task Force 7 from Sacramento, Calif., was in the air by 2 p.m. aboard a military cargo plane escorted by the fighters. Over Kansas, the pilot told the team that the three planes were the only ones in the air over the United States at that moment.
McQuirk was a search team manager as they used dogs, listening devices and extendable cameras to search the rubble at ground zero. They found no one alive.
Time is so important in rescues, McGuirk said, and that is why 90% of successful rescues are performed by bystanders.
McGuirk was humbled to be part of the rescue efforts.
“I felt like I was an ambassador for every firefighter who would have liked to have been there,” he said.
He said he felt overwhelmed when he “imagined all people praying” for the rescuers and victims.
Lally’s Box 21 Rescue Squad got permission from New York City's mayor's office to join the rescue effort. His team spent three days helping search the rubble, using two canine teams and four rescue technicians. The team worked all day and then slept in their truck. The team had only N-95 masks when they arrived, but FEMA soon outfitted them with high-quality dust masks.
Lally developed skin cancer from his exposure. Two buddies also developed cancers. Fortunately, they have survived.
“The World Trade Center Fund has taken care of us, paid all of our medical bills,” Lally said.
Lally and his fellow rescuers are awaiting to learn what was in 25 boxes of tests and analysis of the air quality at Ground Zero recently released by New York City's mayor's office.
Capt. Mike Lally of the Superior Fire Department holds up a photo album of his rescue team’s work at ground zero following the attack on New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Lally was deputy chief of a rescue team from Dayton, Ohio. (Cecilia Moats Photo)
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Lewistown remembers 9/11 victims, families and survivors
https://www.lewistownnews.com/townnews/crime/lewistown-remembers-9-11-victims-families-and-survivors/article_07625d21-ee3d-4edd-b821-0003f1fbaf74.html
Members of the American Legion issue a salute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks during the remembrance ceremony at the Veteran’s Park on the 25th anniversary of that day. James Taurman-Aldrich Reporter
James Taurman-Aldrich Reporter
Lewistown came together to honor the victims, families and survivors of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, during a remembrance ceremony at the Veteran’s Park on the 25th anniversary of that fateful day.
“As part of a six-person team that was subsequently dispatched to New York, I’m honored to serve as your master of ceremonies for this time of remembrance,” John Koch said to begin the ceremony.
Following the introduction, Fire Chief Jimmy Jensen struck the “four fives” bells to honor the 343 firefighters who died in New York City on that day.
“Long before radios, pagers or fire alarms, daily announcements were sent from headquarters to the fire houses by a system of bells and telegraphs,” Koch explained. “When a firefighter died in the line of duty, headquarters would then transmit five bell strikes, repeated in a series of four. This custom has continued to this day.”
After the bell was struck 20 times, the Fergus High School Sapphire Choir performed the National Anthem and New Life Assembly Associate Pastor Steve Borchert gave the invocation.
Local leaders — such as VFW Post 1703 Commander Greg Atherton, Representative Shane Klakken and Sheriff Ryan Peterson — spoke about what it was like to be alive in different parts of the world on Sept. 11, 2001. County Commissioner Ross Butcher also read a proclamation honoring the victims of 9/11.
To conclude the ceremony, Koch played a “final page,” which also honored the 343 firefighters who lost their lives. Members of the American Legion fired a salute honoring all the victims of that day before Taps was played and Chaplain Russell Epperson gave the closing benediction.
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Davis Coule Fire burning 15,340 acres on Crow reservation
https://www.ktvq.com/news/davis-coule-fire-burning-15-340-acres-on-crow-reservation
Davis Coulee Fire. Photo by courtesy photo
By: MTN News
A 15,470-acre wildfire continues to burn Tuesday on the Crow reservation southwest of Crow Agency.
The Davis Coulee remains 0 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to MT Fire Info, the state's fire database.
Seven engines and two helicopters have been assigned. No structures have been threatened.
Fire officials said they are focused on securing the line with support from air tankers and helicopters. Due to steep, rugged terrain, ground crews are accessing the fire on foot. Hot, dry conditions and ongoing drought continue to make fuels highly receptive to long-range spotting and fast-moving fire behavior. With shifting weather and unpredictable winds, firefighter safety remains the top priority.
Eighty-five personnel are fighting the fire.
The fire was reported Monday, and fire officials have not released a cause.
Customers at Big Horn Electric Co-op temporarily lost power from the Yellowtail subdivision in the areas of Reno Creek South of Soap Creek, Lodge Grass, Wyola, and Wyoming Monday due to the fire.
Lodge Grass school delayed the start of school Tuesday, and the Benteen bus route was canceled.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
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Forest Service announces planned burns in next two months southwest of Helena
https://www.ktvh.com/news/forest-service-announces-planned-burns-in-next-two-months-southwest-of-helena
Photo by: MTN NEWS
By: MTN News
The Forest Service is preparing for multiple planned burns through October in the Lewis and Clark National Forest southwest of Helena.
The first planned burn is the Bear Gulch Prescribed Burn, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, through Thursday, Sept. 17, according to the Helena Ranger District. The project area lies southwest of Helena along Grizzly Gulch and will reduce fuel loading across 550 acres of federal and private lands.
The next scheduled burn is the Wakina Sky Prescribed Burn, located south of Helena and west of Orofino Gulch Drive. This burn is planned for the week of Sept. 21 and will treat approximately 330 acres.
Finally, the Brooklyn Divide Prescribed Burn, south of Helena near Brooklyn Bridge and Skihi Peak, is expected to begin during the week of Sept. 28 and covers approximately 500 acres.
The timelines may shift depending on weather conditions and the completion of all required approvals.
Collectively, these projects aim to reduce the potential for high-severity wildfires in the surrounding Wildland Urban Interface. The treatments are not intended to stop future fires but to modify fire behavior and intensity, ultimately improving the effectiveness of future wildfire suppression efforts.
Nearby residents or visitors may experience smoke during the prescribed burn. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. Smoke information and resources can also be found through the Lewis and Clark County Public Health website.
The Forest Service will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before the prescribed broadcast burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be postponed to a later date.
For any additional questions, call the Helena Ranger District at 406-449-5201.
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UPDATE: Fire staffing draws down as wildfire containment grows
https://www.dillontribune.com/news/fire-staffing-draws-down-as-wildfire-containment-grows/article_6238d8ee-b1d7-4745-874e-49d5bc050840.html
Casey S. Elliott Dillon Tribune staff
The wildfires in Beaverhead County are creeping up in containment, reducing the need for additional firefighter manpower.
The Sand Creek Fire is 35,520 acres and 58% contained as of Monday. The Bobcat Lakes Fire is 10,896 acres and 72% contained, and the Skull Fire remains at 68 acres and 0% contained. There are a total of 199 personnel working the fires.
Firefighters removed structure protection materials on the Bear Lake Cabin Sunday, and are extinguishing remaining heat near control lines on Steel Fox Road. Suppression repair crews are working on the western flank of the fire.
Suppression repair continues at the Bobcat Lakes Fire, and firefighters are patrolling its perimeter and monitoring the Skull Fire.
The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is closed. Some National Forest Service areas, roads and trails are closed.
For more information visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.
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UPDATE: Crews continue to work to contain Sand Creek Fire near Wisdom
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/crews-continue-to-work-to-contain-sand-creek-fire-near-wisdom
Big Hole Type 3 Incident Management Team. As part of the suppression repair plan, the Trapper Creek Type 2 initial attack crew hikes to their assigned work area for the day to begin seeding a contingency dozer line. Sept. 12, 2026. Photo: Beaverhead Deerlodge Forest
by NBC Montana Staff
WISDOM, Mont. — Firefighters in the Pioneer Mountains area continued suppression and repair work as strong winds reduced the lasting effects of rain and snow that fell Sunday night.
The Bobcat Lakes Fire, burning 13 miles southwest of Wise River and 12 miles east of Wisdom, was listed at 10,896 acres and 72% contained. Officials said the rain and snow that fell over the fire area Sunday night has mostly melted, and moisture impacts have been minimized by strong winds. Crews remain engaged in places where the fire perimeter isn’t yet contained. As part of suppression repair objectives, crews are grading roads, moving excess fuel, and returning control lines to a more natural state. Firefighters are also patrolling near private land in Jerked Prairie.
The Sand Creek Fire, burning 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, was listed at 35,520 acres and 58% contained. Firefighters are working to address lingering heat near control lines along Steel Fox Road, working directly along the fire’s edge when it is safe to do so and the probability of success is high.
The Skull Fire, burning eight miles southeast of Wisdom and 1 mile east of Odell Lake, was listed at 68 acres and 0% contained. Firefighters continue to monitor and patrol the area.
Closures remain in effect across the fire area. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place, the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway remains closed, and a closure is in effect for National Forest System area, roads and trails.
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UPDATE: Treasure State Hostel faces extended closure after J.W. Heist fire
https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/treasure-state-hostel-faces-extended-closure-after-j-w-heist-fire
Treasure State Hostel says water damage from last week’s fire has displaced guests and could keep the downtown Bozeman business closed for months.
A fire at J.W. Heist Steakhouse in downtown Bozeman last week has left the restaurant closed and the Treasure State Hostel, located directly below it, dealing with water damage and displaced guests. Photo by: Meghan Elaine
By: Meghan Elaine
A fire at J.W. Heist Steakhouse in downtown Bozeman last week has left the restaurant closed and the Treasure State Hostel, located directly below it, dealing with water damage and displaced guests.
WATCH MORE ABOUT THE FIRE:
Nina Erickson, owner of Treasure State Hostel, opened the 40-bed hostel more than a decade ago. She says the space has become more than a place for travelers to stay — it has become part of the community.
“These four walls are more than just a building; it's memories,” Erickson said.
Erickson, an adventure enthusiast who grew up experiencing hostels around the world, said she wanted to bring that same sense of community to Bozeman.
“That's what I wanted to do here in Bozeman, and Bozeman is the perfect spot for it.”
That community was disrupted Thursday when Erickson said she received a text from her staff about a fire at J.W. Heist, directly above the hostel.
“They were taking care of everything; my staff was great, saw the smoke, smelled the smoke, evacuated.”
Restaurant staff evacuated patrons and called 911 as the Bozeman Fire Department responded.
WATCH FOOTAGE FROM THE SCENE:
James Short, deputy chief of operations with the Bozeman Fire Department, said crews worked to contain the fire while limiting additional damage.
“Our main priority is to do as little damage as we can while still containing the emergency and containing the fire.”
Short said the fire began in the restaurant's chimney. He said chimney fires are less common than fires involving restaurant hood systems.
“In restaurants it's really not that common, what we see more often is some sort of hood system fire which is what this ended up being.”
The fire department is still investigating the cause.
Hostel reports water damage
While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire upstairs, Erickson said water began seeping into the hostel.
“The fire was done, but the water continued, because it had time to come down,” Erickson said.
Erickson said Thursday's incident is not the first time the hostel has experienced leaks or flooding from the restaurant above.
“It's the truth, they caused us to have leaks or floods multiple times,” Erickson said.
According to Erickson, the latest incident displaced all of the hostel's guests, including people who were staying there at the time and others with upcoming reservations.
She took to social media to ask for help and posted a sign outside the hostel.
“What do you mean I can't stay for $30 a night, and the only other option is $400? That is when I said we need help.”
Erickson said several hotels have since price-matched rates for displaced guests, while local restaurants have donated gift cards.
J.W. Heist responds
MTN News reached out to J.W. Heist for comment about the fire, the hostel's reported damage and the restaurant's reopening plans.
The restaurant provided a statement saying it is unsure when it will reopen.
“At this time we are in the remediation and fact finding phase. We are working diligently with contractors and restoration services but do not have a reopen date set. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this event including the 75 employees who rely on JW Heist for their rent and living expenses as well as the 100's of guests we welcome in nightly who were coming to J.W. Heist for their special life events who have to make other arrangements . We would like to send a very heartfelt thank you to the Bozeman Fire Department for responding to this unfortunate event so quickly and acting with the utmost skill and professionalism to prevent what could have been a much worse outcome. As a locally owned and operated business we thank everyone who has reached out with words of encouragement and support.”
Both businesses now face an uncertain timeline for reopening.
Erickson said she does not know when Treasure State Hostel will be able to reopen, but said she is grateful for the support from the Bozeman community.
“Bozeman is not just for one type of person and I think that is what we are trying to protect.”
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Around the Nation
3 killed in fiery news helicopter crash in Los Angeles
https://www.firerescue1.com/aviation-incidents-airports-and-arff/3-killed-in-fiery-news-helicopter-crash-in-los-angeles
The helicopter used by NBC4 and Telemundo 52 burst into flames while covering a deadly collision between a city bus and an SUV
In this still image provided by KABC-TV shows first responders work the scene after a helicopter crashed near a bus crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angles, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 (KABC-TV via AP) KABC-TV via AP
By Ashley Duong and Hallie Golden
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — A news helicopter crashed in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Tuesday and burst into flames, killing at least three people while reporters were covering the collision of an SUV and a city bus, officials and the news outlet said.
Colleen Williams, an NBC4 Los Angeles anchor, confirmed during live broadcasts that two people were killed when the chopper went down. At least one other person was killed on the ground, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
“We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it,” Williams said, her voice shaking with emotion. Moments later the coverage cut off.
The helicopter, used by NBC and Telemundo, went down near a large storage facility in the neighborhood of Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, officials said. News crews were reporting on a collision from earlier in the day, when an SUV slammed into the middle of a city bus, killing at least two people and injuring six others. Photos and videos online showed half the SUV lodged in the side of the bus.
“From the helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed,” Capt. Branden Silverman, a spokesperson for the fire department, said. “So we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board, as well as identify the helicopter; we couldn’t even see a tail.”
At least four cars and two storage containers on the ground burned after the helicopter caught fire, which was quickly put out, according to officials. NBC4 reporter Robert Kovacik was at the bus scene and saw black smoke and rushed to the helicopter crash site. Dozens of police cars surrounded the scene as ambulances entered.
Two people were brought to a hospital, said Rico A. Gross, a fire department battalion chief. Their conditions were not immediately released.
Williams and the station’s website identified the dead aboard the helicopter as Eliana Moreno, a familiar voice for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 during the station’s aerial coverage, and pilot George Marciniw. Both were employees of Angel City Air, which operated the chopper.
Moreno, born in Orange County, joined the Angel City Air helicopter team in 2010, the same year she earned a broadcast journalism and political science degree from Chapman University. She reported for several Southern California news outlets and began flying with Marciniw in 2023, the NBC4 website said.
Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.
“Losing five Angelenos is very painful,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “And I know this community of Chatsworth, hit hard, will be grieving for some time.”
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles said in a statement they “are deeply saddened” and extended “heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked the emergency crews responding to both crashes and said in a post on X that “our hearts are with the victims and families.”
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said personnel will arrive Wednesday to begin an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash.
There have been at least eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the U.S. since 2000, killing 16 people, according to a review of federal accident records and news accounts.
They include a 2023 crash in a New Jersey forest that killed the pilot and a photographer aboard a helicopter used by Philadelphia station WPVI and a 2022 crash beside a Charlotte, North Carolina, interstate that killed a pilot and meteorologist during a training flight for WBTV.
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Watch: Helmet cam captures N.C. firefighters battling intentionally set house fire
https://www.firerescue1.com/fireground-operations/watch-helmet-cam-captures-n-c-firefighters-battling-intentionally-set-house-fire
Crews with the Charlotte Fire Department encountered heavy fire in a home under renovation and brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes
Sarah Roebuck
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Helmet camera video captured the intense conditions firefighters faced while battling an early-morning house fire.
Charlotte firefighters were called to the 1400 block of LaSalle Street at 4:28 a.m. on Sept. 11, the Charlotte Fire Department stated. Crews from Firehouse 18 arrived three minutes later and found a single-family home under renovation heavily involved in fire.
The video, recorded by a Tower 18 crewmember, shows heavy flames consuming part of the structure as firefighters advance toward the home and begin attacking the fire.
Additional crews responded, and firefighters brought the blaze under control at 4:48 a.m. No civilians or firefighters were injured.
The Charlotte Fire Investigation Task Force determined the fire was intentionally set. The department noted that intentionally-set fires expose firefighters, nearby residents and the surrounding community to unnecessary and unpredictable risks.
Property damage was estimated at $121,000.
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No working hydrants complicate firefighter response to Alaska cruise dock fire
https://www.firerescue1.com/fireground-operations/no-working-hydrants-complicate-firefighter-response-to-alaska-cruise-dock-fire
Firefighters shuttled an estimated 161,000 gallons of water to the Whittier cruise ship terminal blaze, which significantly damaged the 137-foot Klondike Express
By Zaz Hollander
Anchorage Daily News, Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Fire crews responding Monday to a blaze at a new, $80 million cruise ship dock in the Prince William Sound community of Whittier say they engineered an impromptu water shuttle after encountering no working hydrants in the area.
The fire resulted in no reported injuries. Emergency response access prompted an hourslong closure of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel leading in and out of the community.
A cruise ship, the Norwegian Jade, appeared to fight the fire with on-board equipment before departing the area, according to social media posts and photos from witnesses on Monday. The ship was not involved in the fire.
The fire did do “significant damage” to the Klondike Express, a 137-foot, high-speed catamaran operated by Phillips Cruises & Tours, according to Casey Neumann, a managing partner with the company. The Klondike, built in 1999, was moored at the dock unoccupied and not powered at the time the fire began, she said.
“It started on the dock and it spread to the Klondike,” Neumann said Tuesday, of the fire’s origin. Phillips towed the vessel away from the dock and plans to repair it in time for next season, she said.
The fire at the north cruise ship terminal was reported around 11 a.m. Monday and extinguished early Tuesday morning, authorities say.
A U.S. Coast Guard investigation team arrived around 10 a.m. Tuesday, Coast Guard spokesperson Omar Faba said in an email. The agency is conducting a damage assessment and evaluating the need for any pollution response.
“There is an ongoing investigation into the cause of the incident,” Faba said.
The Anchorage Fire Department, along with Girdwood Fire and Rescue, provided assistance to Whittier’s fire department on Monday as did emergency services from Moose Pass, Bear Creek, and Cooper Landing.
As the incident developed, the city requested mutual-aid assistance from the regional fire and emergency response agencies, according to an update from Whittier city officials Tuesday afternoon.
“Firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, marine responders, dispatch centers, and state and federal partners coordinated a large-scale response by land and water,” the update said.
The lack of any nearby functional hydrants complicated the response, Anchorage fire officials said Tuesday in a social media post.
Firefighters from Anchorage and Girdwood used water tenders and other equipment to establish a water shuttle, according to representatives of both departments. Tenders ran “repeated 10-minute loops between the incident scene and a working hydrant in Whittier to keep the water supply running ...,” the Anchorage Fire Department post said.
Girdwood fire Chief Michelle Weston put a conservative estimate at the amount of water moved at 161,000 gallons. Whittier fire officials were not available for interviews Tuesday morning.
Asked about the hydrant issues, Whittier city manager Jackie Wilde directed a reporter to the state Fire Marshal’s Office, which Wilde said is overseeing the ongoing fire investigation. A representative of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, which includes the fire marshal’s office, was not immediately available for comment.
The dock was built by Huna Totem Corp., in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. It opened in September 2025 and booked multiple sailings this year. There were only a few more sailings scheduled this month as the season winds down.
The commissioning of the USS Ted Stevens, a U.S. Navy destroyer, was scheduled to be held at the dock in early October. The commissioning will proceed as planned on Oct. 3, but at the Princess Cruises terminal, according to the city update.
Representatives of Huna Totem and the cruise line did not immediately respond to messages left Tuesday morning.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
© 2026 Anchorage Daily News. Visit www.adn.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Dog resuscitated at Pasadena, CA, house fire greets rescuers
https://www.firehouse.com/community-risk/investigation-equipment/video/55405401/dog-resuscitated-at-pasadena-ca-house-fire-greets-rescuers
At her first house fire, Sierra Madre Firefighter Jessica Johnson found the unconscious Shetland Shepherd under a table.
David Wilson
Pasadena Star-News, Calif.
(TNS)
Milo, a 6-year-old Shetland Shepherd, Monday morning, Sept. 14, greeted the firefighters who rescued him from a burning Pasadena home last week.
It was a chance to reunite under much sweeter circumstances.
Milo sat calmly in front of the home that just days earlier was in flames and filled with smoke. He showed no signs of his life threatening experience as he played with the homeowners Fernando and Leticia. At the sight of a blue ball, Milo spun in excitement before playing fetch on the front lawn.
Fernando made t-shirts for all the firefighters emblazoned with a picture of Milo.
“Sometimes we just take it for granted until we come up with a situation like this and we’re so grateful that they’re here, that they love what they do,” Leticia said.
The family declined to provide their last name out of concerns over privacy.
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, around 1:15 p.m. fire crews from the Pasadena, Arcadia and Sierra Madre fire departments responded to the home located on Michillinda Avenue between Sierra Madre and Foothill boulevards.
The home is in Pasadena, but on the border with the two neighboring cities. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the home and had to force entry. Milo was the only one home when crews arrived. Sierra Madre Firefighter Jessica Johnson found him hiding under a table.
Once outside crews worked to revive an unconscious Milo with an oxygen mask that went over his snout. According to first responders, Milo was up and walking about five minutes after he was rescued from the home. Leticia said Milo is on antibiotics and has another check-up this week.
“We got him about eight minutes into our operation,” Pasadena Fire Department Battalion Chief Trey Sorensen said. “I think if he’s in there any longer I don’t know if the outcome is the same.”
Arcadia Fire Department Captain Drew Pryor said the fire, which started in a back bedroom, was difficult to locate because it had burned into the floor while also sending smoke throughout the house and damaging the attic.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and the family of four remains displaced from the home.
© 2026 Pasadena Star-News, Calif.. Visit www.pasadenastarnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Professional and Administrative Positions (**Denotes new posting)
**EMS Administrative Captain, City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-ems-administrative-captain-city-of-mount-vernon-closing-10-05-2026/
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mtvernonwa/jobs/5473708/ems-administrative-captain?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
Application deadline: October 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM Pacific
Fire Chief, City of Billings, Billings, MT
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/mt-fire-chief-city-of-billings-first-review-09-21-2026/
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fire-Chief-digital.pdf
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/billingsmt/jobs/5457005/fire-chief?keywords=fire%20%26%20ems&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review September 21, 2026
Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator, Teton County Fire Protection District, Driggs, ID
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wildfire-Mitigation-Coordinator-Job-Posting.pdf
https://www.tetoncountyfire.org/join-the-crew
Application deadline: October 1, 2026
Assistant Fire Chief, McLane Black Lake Fire Department, Olympia, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-assistant-fire-chief-mclane-black-lake-fire-department-closing-09-25-2026/
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Assistant-Fire-Chief-Announcement-PKT-Sept-2026.pdf
https://www.mclanefire.org/2026-09-04-hiring-for-assistant-fire-chief
Application deadline: September 25, 2026
Fire Chief, Lewis County Fire Districts 5 & 6, Napavine, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-fire-chief-lewis-county-fire-districts-5-6-first-review-10-04-2026/
https://www.prothman.com/JobFiles/3398/Lewis%20County%20Fire%20District%205%20and%206%20WA%20Fire%20Chief%20Position%20Profile%20Final.pdf
https://www.prothman.com/open-recruitments/?jobId=3398
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review October 4, 2026
Assistant Fire Chief of Risk Reduction, Inspections, and Investigations, Spokane County Fire District 9, Mead, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-assistant-fire-chief-of-risk-reduction-inspections-and-investigations-spokane-county-fire-district-9-first-review-10-04-2026/
https://www.prothman.com/JobFiles/3397/SCFD9%20Assistant%20Chief%20of%20Risk%20Reduction%20Inspections%20and%20Investigations%20Profile%20Final2.pdf
https://www.prothman.com/open-recruitments/?jobId=3397
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review October 4, 2026
Assistant Chief of Operations, Whatcom County Fire District #1, Everson, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-assistant-chief-of-operations-whatcom-county-fire-district-1-closing-11-02-2026/
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AC-Job-Posting.pdf
https://wcfd1.sharepoint.com/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2FShared%20Documents%2FAC%20of%20Operations%202026&p=true&ga=1
Application deadline: November 2, 2026, all documents must be submitted and received no later than 5:00 PM Pacific
Assistant Chief, Quilcene Fire Rescue, Quilcene, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-assistant-chief-quilcene-fire-rescue-closing-09-13-2026/
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Assistant-Chief-Job-Flyer.pdf
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1005-Assistant-Chief-Job-Description.pdf
https://www.quilcenefirerescue.org/now-hiring-assistant-chief
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review September 13, 2026
District Fire/EMS Chief, Douglas Okanogan County Fire District 15, Brewster, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-district-fire-ems-chief-douglas-okanogan-county-fire-district-15-open-until-filled/
https://prothman.com/JobFiles/3392/DOCFD15%20Fire%20Chief%20Profile%20Final%202026.pdf
https://prothman.com/open-recruitments/?jobId=3392
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review September 13, 2026
Assistant Fire Chief of Operations & Training, Riverside Fire Authority, Centralia, WA
https://www.riversidefire.net/employment
Application deadline: Open until filled
Mechanic, Grant County Fire District 8, Mattawa, WA
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/wa-mechanic-grant-county-fire-district-8-closing-09-04-2026/
https://dailydispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/4.1.15-Mechanic-Job-Description-FINAL-06-09-2026.pdf
https://gcfd8.net/employment-opportunities
Application deadline: September 25, 2026, by 5 PM Pacific
Chief of Operations, Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Bainbridge Island, WA
https://www.bifd.org/pdfs/2026_new_hire/2026-06-24%20Operations%20Chief.pdf
https://www.bifd.org/employment
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review August 24, 2026
Lateral Captain/Paramedic, Montesano Fire Department, Montesano, WA
https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fcms8.revize.com%2Frevize%2Fmontesano%2FDocument%2520Center%2FCivil%2520Service%2FLateral%2520Captain%2520PM%2520Application%2520Packet.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
https://www.cityofmontesano.com/employment_opportunities/index.php
Application deadline: Open until filled
Mobile Integrated Health Professional, City of Pendleton Fire & Ambulance Department, Pendleton, OR
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/or-mobile-integrated-health-professional-city-of-pendleton-fire-ambulance-department-first-review-09-22-2026/
https://www.pendletonor.gov/media/21711
https://www.pendletonor.gov/hr/job-opening/mobile-integrated-health-professional-grant-funded
Application deadline: Open until filled, first review September 22, 2026
Deputy Chief of Operations, Klamath County Fire District 1, Klamath Falls, OR
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/or-deputy-chief-of-operations-klamath-county-fire-district-1-closing-10-18-2026/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZLs9Y9Rsrdd43Vq2wwrnnsekS-p_WPrm/view
https://kcfd1.casellehire.com/jobs/318474
Application deadline: October 18, 2026
Chief of Department (Fire & EMS), Summit Fire & EMS Fire Protection District, Summit County, CO
https://dailydispatch.com/firefighter-job/co-chief-of-department-fire-ems-summit-fire-ems-fire-protection-district-closing-09-25-2026/
https://www.governmentresource.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Summit-Fire-EMS-CO-Fire-Chief-1.pdf
https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment/summit-fire-ems-co-fire-chief/
Application deadline: Open until filled
Lieutenant Firefighter, Strasburg Fire Protection District, Strasburg, CO
https://www.strasburgfire.org/lieutenant-firefighter-full-time
Application deadline: Open until filled
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Apparatus and Equipment Exchange
Looking for equipment: booster hose reel ideally one with an electric motor and hard rubber hose
If you have you that you would like to get rid of or to sell, please contact Philip at 406-223-1699
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Swan Lake Volunteer Fire Department – 1999 International Cab Over Tender for sale
- Engine is a 4900 530HP
- 900 GPM 110 PSI pump
- 3200 Gallon SC-14 3/16 Steel Water tank with Belly Plate
- 1 Longitudinal and 2 Lateral baffles
- Ladder, Manway with Lid, Fenders, Light Kit
- Hydrant fill pipe
- 750 Gallons @ 60PSI 4x3 pump, pond fill, 4” suction
- 2 Front, Side, and Rear sprays
- 1 1/2” 50ft hose reel
- 10’ Newton Quick dump at rear
Price: $40,000.00
Please contact Kyle Luckow, Chief, at (406)886-2272 with any questions.
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Missouri River Fire Rescue has a Custom-built Deluxe RKO Enterprises Polaris Ranger 6X6
- 760cc EFI Engine
- Fully heated cab
- Aluminum Wheels and No-Air Tires
- Multi Mount Warn Winch
- 120 Gallon Water, 5 Gallon Foam copolymer Tank System with Lifetime Warranty
- Cat High Pressure, Low Volume Fire Pump Capable of Producing Foam like CAFS and only uses 8GPM of Water
- RKO Stainless Steel Piping with Lifetime Warranty
- RKO Watertight Wiring System
- Draft Capability to 19 Feet
- 13 HP Honda OVH with Electric Start
- RKO Custom Aluminum Bed System
- Hannay Manual Hose Reel
- Junkin Rescue System
- Motorola Radio
- Whelen 100 W / Siren / PA and Whelen TIR3 Emergency Lights (8)
- Grote LED Work Lights, LED Marker Lights
- FRC LED Tankvision Gauge, RKO Discharge PSI Gauge
- CD Player
- Custom Aluminum Rack
Price: $29,995.00
If you are interested or have any questions, contact Missouri River Fire Rescue at 406-868-9235 or
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Contact us at:
To post your advertisement today! There is no cost associated with advertising in the Latest for Montana department members.
Sharing between departments
If you have serviceable equipment laying around that you no longer have a need for, feel free to contact your local FSTS trainer. We may be able to find a home for it.
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