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9/11/2001 red, white & blue ribbon
we remember red, white & blue ribbon

Welcome to the
Custer Country Rural Volunteer Fire Company
Home Page
We are a volunteer 501(c)3 not-for-profit fire company of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors since 1951" serving property owners to a radius of 25 miles outside the city limits of Miles City, Montana with an operating budget of $40,000. The Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company (CCRVFC) traces its roots in the Miles City area back to 1951 with the formation of the Rural Fire Association (RFA), after a series of fires struck the outskirts of town not protected by the city department and arrangements could not be made with existing local departments.
The original board members that founded the RFA (officially called the "Rural Fire Association of Miles City" at the time) did this to be "Neighbors Helping Neighbors". Those people were Bob Lynam as Chairman, Gwen Wallace, W. F. Bickle, John R. Anderson, Charles Bundy, Mrs. Ed Siewert and John Pauley. These board members were also our first fire fighters as well. By the end of 1951 the RFA served the area with 19 firefighters, with Charles Jesse, Sr., as chief, utilizing 1 truck. A 1 stall building was built in 1952 to house the fire truck on land (then outside the city limits) donated by Custer Post No. 5 of the American Legion. This building, with later expansions, is the same (now three stall) building we use today. Over the ensuing years we have had many joys, challenges, and tragedies effect our volunteers and members. We have seen many new technologies evolve and change the way we fight fire and promote fire safety and knowledge. We have also seen many people and families (Two of which, we are proud to say, are in their third generation of involvement.) with many different abilities and many different ages involved with the RFA and CCRFVC.
We currently have 9 board members and our Secretary and Treasurer: President Mike Toennis, Vice President Ed Heinle, Secretary Douglas Ochsner, Treasurer Valerie Gabel, and Directors Lee Akers (who also serves as our chaplain), Tim Hatcher, Jay Ochsner and Mary Stabler covering a service area of over 1900 square miles utilizing 15 active and 7 reserve firefighters based in two stations: We also maintain a fleet of six fire trucks and one command vehicle consisting of:

These six fire trucks and one command vehicle give us one of the largest mobile water supplies in the state of Montana.

We can be reached in one of two ways:


This page also has links to: Lee Akers' chaplain's page; the most recent issue of our newsletter, "The Fireside Chat" which is also edited by our webmaster; both view and sign our guest book; and to the US Forest Service's Current Wildfire and Fire Danger Listings Page.
Also on this page is a link to our fire links page with many different fire-related sites. There are three that we wish to highlight here. The first is a link to a very good NFPA web page on the history of Fire Prevention Week. The second is a link to a rescue worker memorial page that is also edited by our webmaster. The last link is to a page from the City of Mason (OH) Fire Department Web Pages showing the origin of the Maltese Cross.
What started out with those 7 people 57 years ago has evolved into the Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company and we, as its current caretakers, hope to help it last for at least another 57 and continue to be a company of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors."
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We recently signed an agreement with the county that provided for county-wide structural, and limited wildland fire coverage as of January 1, 2008. This excludes Miles City and the Ismay Fire District. As a result of this agreement, we no longer are collecting subscription fees. This agreement is something we have been working  toward for a long time. This is what we hope is the beginning of a long relationship with Custer County. As a reminder, any donation you wish to make to the CCRVFC is tax-deductible as we are a 501(c)3 originization. These donations will help us to continue to be "Neighbors helping Neighbors since 1951."
As a result of this agreement, we have had some confusion and misunderstandings. The following is the text of a letter to the editor of the Miles City Star:
We, the directors of the Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company (CCRVFC) deem it necessary to respond to the recent letter to the editor authored by two former County Commissioners and county residents as this letter contains significant factual inaccuracies. We do not wish to engage in name calling or finger pointing, but simply to clarify the record for the benefit of all residents of Custer County. We have no political agenda or personal animosity to others.
The Custer County Commission and the CCRVFC did not enter into a contract for wildland fire suppression. The contract is for structural fire suppression within the county as well as limited wildland fire support. Limited wildland fire support means we provide support to Custer County Fire Department (CCFD) if needed on wildland fires.
The contract is for actual operating expenses not to exceed $ 70,000. We are required to provide receipts to the County Fire Administrator that document operational expenses. The final operational costs may very well not reach the $ 70,000 maximum. This contract excludes all capital purchases. Our goal as always is to operate our department at the lowest possible costs with the best service possible.
In accordance with the requirements of Montana law, Custer County did form a new entity, the CCFD which is charged with the duties of wildland fire suppression. This is an organization separate and distinct from the CCRVFC. The CCFD is located on the campus of Pine Hills School in the old "paint shop building". Custer County has hired Bud Peterson to head the CCFD. Mr. Peterson is not a member of the CCRVFC.
The CCRVFC is a not for profit 501(c)3 private fire company. It is not a county/public entity. The CCRVFC is governed by a board of directors elected by its membership. The Custer County Commissioners have no authority to govern CCRVFC operations.
Mike Preller was appointed as Custer County Fire Warden and serves in an administrative capacity. Bud Peterson was appointed as the Deputy Fire Warden and serves as the operations officer of the CCFD.
It is our sincere hope that this letter will clear up some of the misunderstandings as to the new role of the CCRVFC. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have concerning our role at P.O. Box 1122, Miles City, MT  59301 or via email at ccrvfc@midrivers.com.
Board of Directors,
Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company

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We recently were awarded a grant from FEMA through the United State Fire Administration  for approximately $89,000 that we will use to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE). We are thankful that FEMA has seen fit to award our department another grant to help us improve our equipment.

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May we never forget those who fell as a result of 9/11.
CCRVFC Hall picture courtesy of Steve Allison of the Miles City Star.

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Original Board Members picture
(photo originally published in  Miles City Star, our town newspaper, on January 31, 1971,
commemorating the RFA's twentieth anniversary. This image was obtained with the gracious help
of the librarians at the Miles City Public Library, our town library and a Carnegie library.)

This over 57 year old picture is a picture of our founding board members (and first firefighters) and the first truck purchased for the then "Rural Fire Association of Miles City." While the quality may not be the greatest, this shows what the-now CCRVFC started with and has grown to become.


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Fire Fighter's Prayer

When I am called to duty, God wherever flames may rage,
give me strength to save a life, whatever be its age. 

Help me to embrace a little child before it's too late, 
or save an older person from the horror of that fate. 

Enable me to be alert to hear the weakest shout, 
and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. 

I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me, 
to guard my neighbor and protect his property.

And if according to your will I have to lose my life, 
bless with your protecting hand my loving family from strife. 

Miles City Weather Forecast, MT (59301)

9/11/2001 red, white & blue ribbon
CCRVFC logo
we remember red, white & blue ribbon

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Last edited on 03/02/08
by Douglas J. Ochsner, Webmaster
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