Wildland Fire Update - July 2021

Posted by Jamie Heinrich on August 02, 2021
Jamie Heinrich

The 2021 wildfire season has already burned nearly 3.4 million acres across several states in the US. The west is facing the worst wildfire season in decades and resources have been spread thin for weeks already. We've had 100% of our resources deployed with more resource orders expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Wildfire prevention and management is a multi-agency effort, and Best Practice Medicine coordinates across federal and state agencies to help state, local, tribal, and territorial partners respond to wildfires. Here’s a brief rundown of everything we have accomplished in support of the county’s wildfire fighting efforts since the fire season began.

Fast Facts (As of Jul 31, 2021)

  • Total number of fires BPM has deployed to: 15
  • Total number of acres BPM has supported firefighting: 617,470


Fire season is not over. The estimated cost of total damage to date is $142,920,000 for just the fires we are supporting—and rising.

Wildfire

Where have we deployed?

Crooked Tree  

Located 25 mi east of Bridger, MT .
4141 acres burnt
Estimated cost of damage: $5 million
Fire status: 85% Contained 

Robertson Draw

Located 7 mi south of Red Lodge, MT  
29,885 acres burnt
Estimated cost of damage: $12.7 million
Fire status: 90% Contained 

Divide Complex—Balsinger Fire 

Located 7 miles west of Neihart, MT
9,462 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $7.6 million
Fire status: 15% Contained

Character Complex 

Located 3 miles north of Kellogg, ID. 
5,524 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $10.1 million
Fire status: 30% Contained

Stateline Complex (Tumbledown Fire, Dolly Creek Fire)

Located 22 miles southwest of Superior, MT.
3,740 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $5 million
Fire status: 3% Contained

My Complex

Located southeast of Roundup, MT.
27,811 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: unlisted
Fire status: 93% contained

Goose Fire

Located 32 miles southeast of Ennis, MT. 
7,522 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $6.4 million
Fire status: 78% contained

Black Mountain

Located 20 miles east of Salmon, ID.
968 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $820,000 
Fire status: 0% contained

Cougar Rock Complex

Located 17 miles northeast of Elk River, ID. 
6,740 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $7.9 million
Fire status: 61% contained

Leland Complex

Located 5 miles southwest of Deary, ID.
3,371 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $6.9 million
Fire status: 67% contained

Alder Creek

Located 20 miles northwest of Wisdom, MT. 
8,849 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $7 million
Fire status: 10% contained

Tamarack

Located 16 miles south of Gardnerville, NV
68,497 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $21.6 million
Fire status: 59% contained

Burnt Peak

Located 9 miles south of Troy, MT
3,002 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $7.3 million
Fire status: 31% contained

Bootleg 

23 miles east of Chiloquin, OR.
413,400 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $64.7 million
Fire status: 53% contained

Harris Mountain Complex
Located 7 miles southeast of Cascade, MT.
24,558 acres burnt
Estimated cost of total damage: $1.5 million
Fire status: 0% contained

 

To all the brave men and women out on the fire line, thank you! We are thinking of you always and will continue to support you in any way we can. Thank you for service to our community, stay safe. 

 

Looking to join our team?

We are seeking licensed EMTs and Paramedics to work as Fire line EMTs and Paramedics across the Western US on large fire complexes.

Deployments start at 2-weeks in length with Portal-to-Portal pay (clock in when you pick up equipment and clock out once your gear is fully checked back in - 24/7 pay) equates to $3,500-$4,500 per week varying on experience and certification level.

Before you apply please have proof of:

  • NREMT certification (EMT-B, AEMT, Paramedic)
  • State EMS card (MT preferred, but not required)
  • Valid Drivers License or State ID Card
  • Required Courses (I-100, IS-700, S-130, S-190, L-180 - can be completed online)
  • 2021 RT-130 (Best Practice Medicine can make arrangements for this course to be provided.)
  • 2021 Arduous Pack Test (Best Practice Medicine can make arrangements for this test.)

Apply Now!

 

Topics: EMS Training, News, Job Openings, Wildland Fire EMS

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