The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Editor’s note: We are fast approaching fire season. I found this old Mountaineer article written by Arnold Hokanson and decided to run it to remind us all to be careful and watchful because of all the rain we now have amble fuel for fire this summer. Take the necessary precautions. Don’t drive in tall dry grass. Lubricate all equipment. Don’t work in the fields when it gets hot and drier. Never throw your cigarette out the window.

The clouds rolled, in the early evening of one recent hot summer day. The few raindrops that fell in a fast and furious manner, and dampened the top of the ground, were as welcomed as a long lost friend (which indeed they were) But the sound of thunder created an ominous sound. For it indicated that lightening bolts walked the dry ranges of the Bear Paw Mountains. The dry grass and timber lying in wait for the spark that could cause it to explode.

As dusk settled in, my wife and I were about to go out and check around the ranch, and see if there were any signs of fires. Then the dreaded sound of the telephone. Two alert neighbors has spotted a fire on the back side of our old Tiger Butte. High up on the rocks, about as inaccessible a spot as lightening could find to strike.

As several neighbors began to make their way up the mountain, a small plane flew over the mountain top. The plane continued to fly the entire area, apparently searching for fires.

I still have not been able to determine who called the fire in, to the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Dept. I am inclined to believe that it may have been the pilot. At any rate, although the fire was detected quickly, and was soon brought under control by the small crew of neighbors. It was gratifying sight to see. In something like thirty minutes time, the flashing red lights of the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department, swinging in from the south, making their way toward the mountain.

The fire trucks, of course, could not get near the fire. But several more back packs of water, carried up the mountain by fire department members, proved to be effective in helping cool things down. The quick response of the Big Sandy Fire Department was certainly appreciated, as always.

I have gone to a number of fires through the years, and I have always been amazed by how quick the Big Sandy Fire Department responds. There have only been two occasions that I can recall, that I arrived before the Fire Department. On those occasions, the fire had either started on my land or just across the fence.

I also recall a number of years ago, being on my way toa meeting one evening. Stopping at the home of my in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Peterson, as Ernest and I walked out into the driveway, we noticed small wisps of smoke drifting up from the Big Sandy Grain Co. Elevator Ernest called the fire department, as I left for the meeting. Upon returning to Big Sandy late that night, I expected to see a pile of rubble, and lots of activity where the elevator had set. But everything was quiet, the fire had been extinguished.

A grain elevator in Great Falls burned that same year. A Big Sandy resident proudly told of attending a meeting where some Great Falls promoter commented that he did not have my confidence in volunteer fire department s. The Big Sandy man took issue with the guy stating, “I don’t know about that. We had an elevator fire in Big Sandy, and our fire department saved the elevator. Great Falls had similar fire, and lost their elevator.”