Missoula Rural Fire District earns accreditation, wins $50,000 grant for powered rescue watercraft

The Missoula Rural Fire District has become the second accredited fire agency in Montana, and the district has been awarded a $50,000 Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Program grant to buy powered rescue watercraft for swiftwater rescue operations, Deputy Fire Chief Cory Horton told the Lolo Community Council.

"We're officially the second accredited fire agency in the state of Montana," Horton said, adding that accreditation is intended to make the agency better, not simply to meet an external requirement. He described the accreditation process as multi-year work that strengthens procedures and service delivery.

Horton said the $50,000 grant will be used to obtain powered watercraft to improve efficiency and safety during swiftwater responses; the district will meet with the Department of Commerce to confirm purchasing and reimbursement procedures and expect deliveries as soon as late summer or possibly next spring.

He also reviewed recent call activity for the Lolo station: "In March of 2025, our station ran 43 calls. In March 2026, they ran 49 calls," Horton said, noting a 14% month-over-month increase. Horton recognized on-duty crewmembers Luke Whitman, Cody Maxon, Jake Sporna and Nathan Leinsky for their response to multiple incidents on March 3 — including delivering a baby at a residence and then responding later that day to a heavily involved trailer fire — and for their work on a March 21 attempt on a resident’s life that the crew ultimately could not save.

Horton framed both the accreditation milestone and the new equipment as investments in community safety: the powered craft would supplement existing inflatable and paddle-based boats and reduce risk in high-current situations.

The council thanked the crew for their service. Horton said the district will follow up with state procurement and the Department of Commerce to finalize timing and reimbursement for the watercraft purchase.