A third crew of Ohio firefighters returned home Thursday after making a trip out west to battle wildfires in Montana.
The group, made up of 20 people, was stationed just outside of Eureka in western Montana putting out spot fires near structures and assisting with burn operations at night.
The fire, named the Gibralter Ridge fire, is burning up portions of Kootenai National Forest.
Through the Division of Forestry, the State of Ohio has sent out three 20 person hand crews, which are used to construct “firelines” around wildfires to control them. They then burn out the area and mop up after the fire.
As of this week, six engine crews have made their way out west as well.
10TV spoke with firefighters upon their return about why they volunteer their time.
“It’s service to our country,” said Adam Komar, a service forester with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Out west, where fires are more frequent, resources tend to run thin during this time of year, according to Courtney Cawood, a forest manager for the Ohio Division of Forestry.
For that reason, helping out wasn’t a question.
“They need our assistance so that’s why we go out there to help them,” she said.