Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District

05/30/2026

Billings Clinic West Yellowstone will be extending its hours for the summer season, starting on June 1st!

05/28/2026

05/26/2026

05/12/2026

Firefighters don’t get to choose when the hard work shows up — so we train for it before it does.
Today’s workout included tire flips, tire drags, sweat, teamwork, and probably a few life choices questioned halfway through. 💪🚒🔥

Physical fitness isn’t about looking tough — it’s about being ready to carry equipment, climb stairs, pull hose, and help people on their worst days.

05/12/2026

Our next Board meeting is coming up.

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

🔥 HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WILDFIRES 🔥
Wildfire season is here — now is the time to take steps to protect your home, family, and property. Creating defensible space and reducing fire hazards around your home can greatly improve its chance of surviving a wildfire.
🏠 Focus on the Home Ignition Zones:
🔴 Immediate Zone (0–5 feet)
The most critical area around your home.
✅ Remove flammable plants, mulch, leaves, and firewood
✅ Keep roofs, gutters, decks, and porches free of debris
✅ Use noncombustible materials like gravel or stone near the home
🟠 Intermediate Zone (5–30 feet)
Help slow the spread of fire.
✅ Mow grass and maintain landscaping
✅ Trim tree branches and remove vegetation under trees
✅ Space trees and shrubs apart to reduce fire intensity
🟡 Extended Zone (30–100 feet)
Reduce wildfire intensity before it reaches your home.
✅ Remove dead vegetation and debris
✅ Thin trees and brush
✅ Clear vegetation near sheds and outbuildings
🏡 Fire-Resistant Home Tips:
✔️ Inspect roofs, vents, windows, decks, and siding regularly
✔️ Repair damaged shingles or screens
✔️ Screen vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh to block embers
🚒 Be Prepared:
• Ensure emergency vehicles can access your property
• Create and practice an evacuation plan
• Know multiple evacuation routes
• Review your insurance coverage and document valuables
🌲 Small actions today can make a big difference tomorrow. Protect your home and help keep our community safe.
For more wildfire safety information, visit:
Firewise USA

05/07/2026

The NFPA website is great resource for defending your home from wildfires:
🔥 Protect Your Home Before Wildfire Strikes 🔥
Did you know the area around your home plays a huge role in whether it can survive a wildfire? Retired USDA Forest Service fire scientist Jack Cohen developed the concept of the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) — the areas around your home where simple actions can dramatically reduce wildfire risk.

🏠 The Home Ignition Zone is divided into 3 areas:

🔴 Immediate Zone (0–5 feet from your home)
This is the MOST important area to address because it is highly vulnerable to wind-blown embers.

✅ Clean leaves and pine needles from roofs and gutters
✅ Repair damaged shingles, screens, and windows
✅ Install 1/8” metal mesh screening on vents
✅ Remove mulch, firewood, dead leaves, and flammable plants next to the home
✅ Keep decks and porches free of combustible materials

🟠 Intermediate Zone (5–30 feet)
This area helps slow fire spread through smart landscaping.

✅ Keep grass mowed to 4 inches
✅ Remove “ladder fuels” under trees
✅ Space trees and shrubs apart to reduce fire spread
✅ Create fuel breaks with patios, walkways, and driveways
✅ Clear vegetation around propane tanks

🟡 Extended Zone (30–100+ feet)
The goal here is to interrupt the fire’s path and keep flames low to the ground.

✅ Remove dead plants, debris, and heavy leaf litter
✅ Thin trees and remove small trees growing between larger ones
✅ Clear vegetation near sheds and outbuildings
✅ Maintain spacing between tree canopies

🌲 Small steps now can make a BIG difference during wildfire season. Creating defensible space around your home helps protect your family, firefighters, and your community.

For more information, please visit https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire

04/30/2026

🚒 Training in Action: Initial Attack Hose Deployment 🚒

Ever wonder what happens in the first critical moments when firefighters arrive at a fire.
This week, our crew trained on initial attack hose deployment—a fundamental skill that allows us to quickly and effectively get water on a fire. This training focuses on speed, coordination, and precision to protect lives and property when every second counts.

👨‍🚒 What does this mean for you?
Faster response times when it matters most
Safer, more efficient fire suppression
Highly trained crews ready for real emergencies

These drills may look routine, but they’re essential to making sure we’re always prepared to serve our community.

We’re proud to put in the work behind the scenes so we can be ready when you need us.

04/21/2026

Montana's Emergency Tourism Assistance Grant Program has awarded a total of $500,000 to 10 local safety agencies to support emergency service projects. With new safety gear, patrol vehicles and other upgrades, these agencies will be better prepared to offer tourism-related emergency services in our rural areas.

The following will each receive $50,000 in METAP grant funding:
🔸 CusterCounty Firefighters
🔸 Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District
🔸 Libby Police Department
🔸 Miles City Firefighters IAFF Local 600
🔸 Missoula Rural Fire District
🔸 Ryegate VFD
🔸 Shelby Fire Dept.
🔸 Sun Prairie Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Montana
🔸 Three Mile Fire Department
🔸 Virginia City Rural Fire Department

To read the full press release, visit https://tinyurl.com/2bjfvs5u.

📸: Pexels