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KTVQ: Firefighter killed at Lolo Peak fire identified

August 3, 2017

Authorities released the name of the firefighter who was killed by a falling tree while fighting the Lolo Peak fire on Wednesday. Missoula County Sheriff TJ McDermott said that 29-year-old Brent M. Witham of Mentone, California, died in the accident. Medical crews were called around 3 p.m. Wednesday after a firefighter was struck by a tree while working with a crew in the McClain Creek area south of Lolo. Efforts were made to get Witham down to a landing zone where he could be evacuated by helicopter. The Type I Incident Management Team battling the 6,500-acre lightning sparked blaze that’s burning 10

Gianforte, Azure support July Fire Wildland Firefighters

July 10, 2017

ZORTMAN, MT – The July Fire began July 3, and quickly grew in size and complexity, threatening the towns of Zortman and Landusky, Mont. The Northern Rockies Western Montana Incident Management Team (Connell) was mobilized to the fire to assist local resources with fire suppression efforts. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated. Currently, the fire has reached 10,622 acres and is 50% contained. There are 438 personnel working to suppress this fire. Twelve aircraft are assigned to the fire, including five helicopters. At press time, no serious injuries were reported. The community and structure protection efforts of the

Daines, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Protect and Recognize Wildland Firefighters

April 26, 2017

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today introduced two bipartisan, bicameral bills to protect and recognize wildland firefighters. First, the Wildland Firefighter Recognition Act requires the federal government to provide a special designation to call wildland firefighters just that, wildland firefighters, rather than their current designation as forestry technicians. Providing wildland firefighters with the proper title will improve recruitment efforts and morale and also give due recognition to those brave individuals who risk their lives to protect others’ and their property. Second, the Wildland Firefighter Fairness Act addresses several technical problems wildland firefighters face. Currently, many

Daines, Tester Reintroduce Bipartisan Firefighter Cancer Registry Act

February 15, 2017

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with the deadly disease. Firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful toxins, and research has indicated that there is a strong connection between firefighting and an increased risk for several major cancers such as testicular, stomach, brain and multiple myeloma. “Each and every day, firefighters across the nation are putting their lives at risk to protect ours,” Daines stated. “While we cannot thank them enough for their courage and heroic duties, we must take action and protect them to the

KTVH: Daines proposes legislation to help wildland firefighters

December 16, 2016

(MTN NEWS-HELENA) U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) unveiled new legislation to help wildland firefighters and praised the selection of Rep. Ryan Zinke as the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior during a visit to Helena Thursday. Federal firefighters are entitled to retirement after 20 years because of the hazardous nature of their work. But if they get hurt and can’t return to a firefighting job, they’re currently forced to switch to a 30-year retirement track, like other federal workers. Daines has introduced a bill that would let firefighters injured on the job remain on the 20-year track. It would also

Helena Independent Record: Daines: Reforms needed for ‘unfair’ firefighter retirement, workers comp system

December 16, 2016

Calling the current system “unfair,” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is proposing legislation reforming retirement and workers compensation payments for federal wildland firefighters and law enforcement injured on the job. The current retirement system allows firefighters working in hazardous conditions retirement after 20 years. However, if they are injured on the job and reassigned to a nonhazardous role, they are subject to a 30-year retirement track. Overtime and bonuses are not factored into workers compensation payments, meaning an injured firefighter receives only a percentage of base pay. The base is typically only a fraction of firefighters’ annual earnings as overtime pay

Daines Announces Legislation to Protect Injured Wildland Firefighters Retirements

December 15, 2016

HELENA, Mont. —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced legislation to protect wildland firefighters retirement. Currently, if injured and not able to return to a firefighting position, federal wildland firefighters must switch from the 20-year retirement track authorized for federal employees with certain hazardous jobs to the 30-year retirement track for ordinary federal employees. Daines’ fix will allow wildland firefighters to remain on the 20-year retirement track if they’re injured on the job. Additionally, Daines’ fix requires that overtime pay be considered as income for purposes of calculating worker’s compensation disability benefits since overtime pay constitutes a significant portion of wildland firefighter

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bills to Combat Catastrophic Wildfires

February 4, 2025

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce two pieces of legislation to combat the threat of catastrophic wildfires in Montana and support resiliency efforts. The “Wildfire Emergency Act” would promote forest restoration, firefighter training and energy resilience retrofits. The “Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act” would streamline the process for removing vegetation near power lines. “Montanans are tired of breathing in smoke, and this bipartisan legislation is a commonsense step forward in mitigating the effects of wildfires and stopping the problem at the root. I’ll always look for measures to strengthen fire resilience both in Montana and across the country,” said Daines. Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act: The “Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors

Sen. Steve Daines: Under President Trump, it’s a new day in America

January 29, 2025

When President Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States last week, it marked a new day in America. Voters rejected Joe Biden’s policies that led to unaffordable prices, open borders and weakness abroad, and together with a Republican Congress he is already delivering on his America First agenda. The president nominated an all-star cabinet, including Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to run the Interior Department and energy executive Chris Wright to head up the energy department, Pam Bondi to reform the Justice Department, Pete Hegseth to run the Department

Daines Opposes Latest Wasteful Washington Spending Bill

March 23, 2024

Fails to Adequately Address Spending and Border Crises U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after voting against the latest spending package that includes more than $1.9 billion worth of earmarks and continues Washington’s wasteful spending habits. In addition, the bill fails to adequately address the crisis at the nation’s southern border. Every Senate Democrat voted against every border-related amendment that would help secure the border. “For the second time in a month, Washington is failing Montanans and the American people by passing yet another out-of-control spending bill that does nothing to restore much-needed sanity to our budget

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