County Co-op Program

In areas outside of direct protection by a recognized wildland fire agency, the DNRC affirms wildland fire protection via a cooperative agreement between the county’s Board of County Commissioners and the State. By formally partnering with all 56 counties in Montana, DNRC ensures wildland fire protection on over 55 million acres of state and private land via an arrangement known as State/County Cooperative Fire Protection or “County Co-op.”

The DNRC’s fundamental intent in areas of County Co-op fire protection is to build and maintain the capacity of local governments, so that local firefighters routinely succeed on initial attack and avoid the need for state assistance. The County Co-op Fire Protection arrangement builds upon the fire suppression capacity of communities and local government. It has been a highly effective fire protection model in Montana for the past 50+ years, and this success can be attributed to the partnerships and cooperation that exist across the state. Thousands of fires get contained and controlled each year without large-scale response by outside agencies.

Through the County Co-op arrangement, Montana Counties agree to provide the very basic level of wildland fire protection. The county and its firefighting operations organize, respond and perform both their respective Title 7 (Local Government Fire Protection) obligations and DNRC’s Title 76 duties as outlined in MCA § 76-13-104 (1). This is supplied through a system of rural firefighting organizations and personnel including Rural Fire Departments, Fire Service Fee Areas, Volunteer Fire Companies, and County Rural Fire Departments.

These county and local government fire forces provide the primary initial attack and, in most cases, extended attack on wildland fires in their jurisdiction/county. In return for this service, cooperating counties receive DNRC support in the form of organizational and technical assistance/advice, fire equipment, training, and direct fire control assistance when needed. When a wildland fire exceeds the capacity of the County, assistance is requested and the DNRC will mobilize to assist--bringing to bear the considerable resources of the State, its federal partners, and the interagency response system. This is all provided at no cost to the benefiting county.

• Wildland Fire Training for Local Government
• Mobilization and Fire Business
• Cooperative Fire Equipment
• Fire Related Grants
• Fire Prevention and Community Preparedness Resources
• County Cooperative Agreements

Every year, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Equipment Development and Communications Center (EDCC) meets with DNRC Area Fire Managers to assess the fire equipment needs of their respective regions. 

As the EDCC Program Manager in the Fire Protection Bureau, Angelo coordinates the assembly of wildland fire engines, part of the County Cooperative (Co-op) program. All 56 Montana counties agree to provide a basic level of wildland fire protection – often called initial attack -- and, in return, DNRC provides cooperating counties with fire equipment, technical assistance, and training, at no cost. 

“Montana DNRC’s fundamental intent in areas of County Co-op fire protection is to build and maintain the capacity of local governments, so that local – and often volunteer – firefighters are successful in initially attacking fires and avoiding damaging and costly wildfires,” said Angelo. 

In instances where a wildland fire exceeds the capacity of the county, DNRC mobilizes and provides state, federal, and interagency response system sources, including trucks, equipment, and firefighters. However, thousands of wildland fires are contained and controlled each year by rural fire departments, volunteer fire companies, and county fire departments. County Co-op engines often make the difference between a swift, effective response and a devastating wildfire that local departments, without these resources, would struggle to contain. 

The County Co-op program offers an average of nine new engines and tenders every year to counties in need of reliable fire trucks. DNRC land offices work with each county to determine which departments in their respective jurisdictions would benefit from a new truck. The Co-op engines are primarily funded by the State’s Fire Suppression Account and the federally-funded State Fire Capacity Grant. Once approved by the Fire Advisory Council, Angelo and the EDCC team get to work custom-building the trucks.  

During the last legislative session, DNRC was allocated $60 million over the biennium to bolster its Fire Suppression Account through House Bill 883. $800,000 of that was allocated directly to the EDCC to purchase and build equipment to be distributed through the County Co-op program. 

“The equipment is owned by DNRC but loaned to the counties. Local fire departments proudly operate, maintain, and house wildland fire engines to bolster rapid initial attack across their areas,” said Angelo. There are currently 257 County Co-op engines strategically located across Montana, ready to respond to fires when they arise.  

Montana is experiencing longer and harsher fire seasons than ever before. Especially in counties with few local fire department resources but thousands of square miles to cover, the up-to-date engines are essential. 

“Without this program, I fully believe fires would become larger due to the lack of resources and limited budgets at the local government levels to purchase this equipment,” said Cory Cheguis, Custer County Fire Chief, Fire Warden, and DES Coordinator.  

In recent years, the EDCC assembles an average of nine new engines for the Co-op program. In summer 2024, 14 new engines were delivered across Montana. The crew kept busy catching up from delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when chassis – the base frame and engine of the trucks – were unavailable. A team of welders, painters, and mechanics outfit the chassis with custom-made, durable, and efficient materials. The trucks have four-wheel drive, automatic transmissions, and are fully equipped to fight wildland fires. 13 of the 14 trucks have a Ford F-550 chassis and carry a 500-gallon water tank; one has a F-600 chassis and carries a 900-gallon tank to service the Heath Rural Fire Department in Fergus County, replacing a well-used engine from 2002 with significant signs of old age and heavy use. 

“The EDCC is not just supplying equipment; they are investing in the safety and well-being of our community,” said B.J. Klose, Fire Chief of Beaverhead Fire District 2. “Together, with shared resources and unwavering dedication, we jointly are able to strengthen our ability to protect lives and property, embodying the true spirit of unity and service.” 

Learn where the 2024 Co-op engines were sent below.