Car fire extinguished in University of Montana parking lot in Missoula

A car was on fire in the parking lot near Jesse Hall at the University of Montana campus Tuesday evening. The Missoula Fire Department said in a Facebook post there was fire in the engine compartment and front wheel well of the four-door sedan. Firefighters were able to quickly put the fire out. No injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation.
KTMF-TV ABC/FOX 23 Missoula

Chief Cliff Fire Service Area adds truck to fleet in Lake County

The Chief Cliff Fire Service Area (CCFSA) added a significant new tool to its firefighting arsenal recently, thanks to a generous grant from the James J. Pomajevich and Donna M. Pomajevich Fund of the Montana Community Foundation. The funds allowed the department, located in Big Arm, to purchase a 2007 Chevy Kodiak truck from Polson Rural Fire Department. Brendeon Schoening, owner of Collision Service in Polson and a member of Polson Rural and Chief Cliff fire departments, brokered the deal. He calls the new vehicle “one of the toughest and most versatile trucks around when it comes to firefighting.” The Kodiak boasts a Duramax diesel engine and Allison automatic transmission and is equipped with a 450-gallon water capacity and a hose reel designed to fight everything from car fires to wildland fires and more – “something that would have come in very handy during the Elmo 2 fire that devastated parts of the Chief Cliff area last summer,” said Schoening.
Lake County Leader

Follow Up: The Helena Fire Department trains for ice rescues

VIDEO: On Tuesday, the Helena Fire Department was at Spring Meadow Lake State Park to practice ice rescues. “What we’re doing today is our annual ice rescue training,” said Robbie Bennett, the Helena Fire Department Captain. Using ropes and a sled, the fire department practices rescuing single and multiple victims. The department has several different techniques used to rescue people from the ice. “We use of the technique of reach, throw, row, go, so we'll use makeshift items to try to reach somebody, we’ll throw ropes to them. If that doesn’t work well use our ice rescue sled. Take somebody out there or we’ll also go in the water to get them out as well,” Bennett said. After slipping on their yellow dry suits, they went out into the ice to rescue a fellow firefighter stuck in the water.
KTVH-TV NBC/CW+ 12 Helena