Training begins for Bonneville County’s new rural fire district
It may still be winter but it is never too early to start thinking about fire season. And after last year, first responders are already preparing. The Henry’s Creek Fire went down as Bonneville County’s biggest fire in history. But the aftermath has many thinking about how to prevent a similar event from happening again.
A rural fire district has since been approved, and training took place Saturday. Bonneville County is hoping to have more than 25 volunteers firefighters in the rural fire district. And by Saturday’s training turnout, the county will be able to achieve that goal.
“After the fire the discussion was, what can we do better. And this was one of those ideas that was out there — one of the tools that we could explore and use,” said Bonneville County Commissioner Dave Radford said.
This was the first protection training where farmers, ranchers and land owners in the area of last year’s Henry’s Creek Fire volunteered to be a part of this effort.
“The fire started very close to our place, and we respond to those fires in that area just to protect ourselves and our neighbors,” said Robert Hoff, a landowner who is now the rural fire district chairman.
“A lot of these farmers and ranchers have been fighting fires on their own for generations. But without the coordinated effort of the different farmers and ranchers coming together, we felt like this could really help,” Radford said.
By having an official rural fire district, it gives the volunteer firefighters direct communication with the county. With all hands on deck and with communication, it can make fighting fires much easier.
“Almost every year we’re involved, as a landowner, in fighting a fire somewhere in the foothills. Lightning caused, power line caused, arson,” Hoff said.
The Bonneville County rural fire district is the ninth in the Gem State. There will be a second round of training in March. The next steps will be getting those radio communication systems, getting trained on that, and getting the farmers and ranchers fitted in their own firefighting gear.
