City of Bozeman Receives FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grant

Sunday Sep. 10th, 2017


The FEMA Department of Homeland Security has notified the City of Bozeman that it has been approved for an Assistance to Firefighters grant in the amount of $58,680. The grant is to purchase protective clothing for firefighters to wear on wildland fire events.

City Manager Dennis Taylor states “providing excellent service to our citizens is always a priority, but in doing so we also want to ensure that our responders are safe, and this grant helps allow us to do that”.

While firefighters have protective gear that provides safety for fighting fires in buildings, that same gear isn’t suited for wildland applications. Chief Josh Waldo states “the traditional gear that people are accustomed to seeing firefighters wear is bulky, heavy, and designed to protect firefighters from the heat that they encounter in a building fire. Wildland gear, while designed to provide some fire protection, is much lighter and allows for more mobility which is important in fighting fires in wooded areas or areas with terrain issues for extended periods often in high temperatures”.

The grant comes on the heels of one of the worst fire seasons in Montana’s history. Chief Waldo states “with the current fire situation in our state, receiving this grant helps us ensure that we are prepared for fires that may occur in our city, county, or state. We appreciate and thank Senator Daines and Senator Tester for their support and assistance in obtaining this grant”.

For additional information you may contact City Manager Dennis Taylor @ 582- 2306 or Fire Chief Josh Waldo @ 582-2351