MA Sending 20 Firefighters To Help Battle Wildfires In MT, ID

BOSTON — Twenty Massachusetts firefighters are heading west to help fight wildfires burning across the Northwest and North Rocky Mountain regions, Gov. Charlie Baker said.

The crew includes 14 Department of Conservation and Recreation firefighters, three from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and three from municipal departments. The firefighters left from Hopkinton State Forest Headquarters Saturday and have been assigned to battle blazes in Montana and Idaho. The crew will join with 77 other crews from federal and state agencies, including the National Park Service, to extinguish the flames.

State officials said there are currently 45 uncontained wildfires burning in the Northern Rockies area, totaling over 700,000 acres.

There are currently 45 uncontained large fires burning in the Northern Rockies area, totaling over 700,000 acres. The Massachusetts crew will spend two weeks building fire breaks, securing fire perimeters, containing fires and protecting buildings.

"I am grateful for the dedicated Massachusetts firefighters who are part of this mission to help residents of the Northwest," Baker said in a statement. "Massachusetts has a long, proud history of national and international cooperation in battling wildfires, and on behalf of the entire Commonwealth, our thoughts are with those who are impacted by these fires."

The crew includes: Roy J. Liard Jr. of Millville; Benjamin Jennell of West Newbury; George LKleczka of Plainville; Brian Mayer of West Gordon; Brian Johnson of Ashburnham; Joseph Nawrocki of New Salem; Aaron Best of Lakeville; Daniel Bove of Worcester; Conor Clancy of Merrimac; Tyler Desautels of Oxford; Brian Everett of Mashpee; Connor Fleming of Fairhaven; Travis Gross of Holliston; Jacob O’Donnell of Millis; Cody Smeaton of Westport; Andrew Theve of Northborough; Derick Valovcin of Holliston; Christopher Fischer of Dracut; Jeffrey M. Belanger of Greenfield; and George L. Nolette of North Brookfield.