Mass. Firefighters Join Fight Against Wildfires
The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
Aug. 20—A Topsfield firefighter is among a crew of 20 from Massachusetts who have been sent to Montana to help battle multiple wildfires.
Jonathan Hallinan, who lives in Ipswich, is serving on an "initial attack hand crew" that will fight the fires for up to 14 days, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
There are 22 fires burning out of control in Montana, and 107 active fires in the western United States, according to DCR.
"Massachusetts has a long, proud history of national and international cooperation in battling wildfires, and on behalf of the entire Commonwealth, our thoughts and prayers are with those who are impacted by these fires and for the safe travel and return of our firefighters," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a press release.
Hallinan is part of a crew that includes 12 firefighters from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, four from the Division of Fisheries of Wildlife, and four municipal firefighters.
All of the firefighters passed a 40-hour federal wildland firefighter class and physical fitness test to earn federal certification for the work. The state of Montana pays all expenses of the out-of-state crews, including salary, transportation, lodging, and food, through a mutual aid agreement with the U.S. Forest Service.
The crews were initially stationed at Northern Rockies Coordination Center in Great Falls, Montana, for assignment to one of the fires. Firefighters from the National Park Service, White Mountain National Forest and the Mid-Atlantic states were also sent to help.
