Shift Capt. Keith Orndorff, who served on the fire department's truck committee, said the panel's lengthy research into options for a new truck led them to recommend getting one that is customized to meet the specific needs of the department. He said they decided to go with a combination rescue pumper that will enable the department to put one vehicle on the road during emergency responses instead of two.  

"Now we have a fire engine and a rescue vehicle in the same truck," Orndorff said. The truck committee members also included Assistant Chief Sean Junge and engineers Kenny Clatfelter, Jeff Hilligoss and Mike Ueleke.

"We had numerous significant fires. Obviously the fires that burned in Napa are going and now these fires in Los Angeles," says Red Lodge Fire Chief Tom Kuntz. "Overall this is going to shape up to be one of the worst fire seasons in U.S. history."  

 While firefighting poses many dangers, he ensures that his team is properly equipped and highly trained.

"Now in Montana we have a significant threat from wild land fires and we're fortunate to have a response system of both volunteer and career firefighters who are very well trained in working in the wild land interface which is when the fires are moving into homes," Kuntz adds.