When a fire breaks out, most people focus on the emergency at hand. Everything that happens before the fire — the preparation, training and equipment maintenance — that makes an effective response possible, often goes overlooked.

Across our service territory, volunteer and combination fire departments play a critical role in protecting lives and property. These departments respond to structure fires, wildland fires, medical emergencies, severe weather events and rescue calls, often with limited budgets and resources. The firefighters who serve their communities do so while balancing careers, family responsibilities and countless hours of volunteer service.

Through our Funds for Firefighters program, we're proud to help support these local departments and the people who answer the call when their communities need them most.

Since 2001, the Foundation has invested more than $10,000,000 in organizations that strengthen communities across our service territory. Guided by its giving pillars of thriving communities, conservation and future leaders, the Foundation continues to invest in programs that make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

This year, the Foundation awarded $165,000 through 72 grants to departments serving more than 100 communities across seven states. The funding supports a variety of needs, including protective gear, rescue equipment, communications technology, facility improvements and other critical resources that help firefighters work safely and effectively.

For North Haines Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Ricky Huling, grants like these help bridge the gap between growing costs and limited funding.

"Most of our revenue comes from tax revenue, so we have a set budget every year," Ricky said. "With the price of fuel and equipment costs continuing to rise, these kinds of grants allow us to buy the equipment we need without having to save for years or constantly look for additional funding."

North Haines plans to use its grant funds to purchase additional equipment for its progressive hose lay packs, commonly known in the wildland firefighting world as Travis packs. The equipment plays an important role when crews respond to fires in difficult terrain throughout the Black Hills.

He explained that firefighters use the packs to lay hose lines up hillsides and through rugged areas where fire engines can’t easily reach. As firefighters move forward, hose is deployed behind them, allowing crews to extend water lines deeper into wildfire areas.
Having additional packs available improves readiness and response times.

"We like to keep spare packs on hand," Ricky said. "When we come back from an incident, we can immediately reload the truck and be ready for the next call instead of spending valuable time repacking equipment."

That readiness is especially important during periods of heightened fire activity.

"We've been really busy," Ricky explained. "Our firefighters were working in 102-degree temperatures during one recent fire. Those conditions can be very challenging."

The demands placed on volunteer departments are growing, making investments in equipment, safety and operational readiness increasingly important. Every piece of gear, from hoses and nozzles to radios and protective gear, helps firefighters respond more effectively and safely.

The impact of the Funds for Firefighters program extends beyond emergency response. Volunteer firefighters often serve in multiple roles throughout their communities. In addition to fighting fires, they assist with medical calls, search and rescue operations, disaster response efforts and public safety education.

Their work helps strengthen community resilience while providing critical services in areas that might otherwise have limited emergency response resources.

Ricky emphasized that local businesses and community members play an important role in supporting volunteer departments.

"The people who are going to come protect your property and put out your fires could be your neighbors," he said. "We're volunteers, and if tax revenues don't keep up with our costs, we need outside help."

Financial support from businesses and organizations allows departments to purchase needed equipment, provide resources for firefighters and enhance overall operations.

"Every little bit helps," Ricky said. "The more support we receive, the more we can do to keep our firefighters safe and improve the service we provide."

Additionally, Ricky wanted to remind community members to practice fire prevention, especially during hot and dry conditions. Avoiding activities that can spark fires during periods of extreme heat and properly disposing of smoking materials can help reduce preventable fires and lessen demands on emergency responders.

The Black Hills Corp. Foundation's Funds for Firefighters program reflects a shared commitment to community safety and preparedness. By helping departments acquire critical equipment and resources, the program supports the volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to protecting others.

For Ricky, the support is both practical and meaningful.

"Black Hills Energy has been great," he said. "We appreciate the support, and we're good stewards of those funds. We use them to buy things we need that make us safer and more efficient at our job."

Together with volunteer fire departments across our service territory, we're helping build stronger, safer and more resilient communities for generations to come.

Learn more about our community impact efforts.