Governor Gives ‘Spirit of Montana’ Award to Missoula Firefighters

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte was in Missoula on Thursday afternoon to current the ‘Spirit of Montana’ Award to members of the Missoula Metropolis Hearth Division for a dramatic rescue that occurred on July 16 when a paraglider crashed 80 toes up in a tree coming off Mount Sentinel.

Missoula Hearth Division Captain Invoice Bennett described what occurred that day close to UM Married Pupil Housing.

“We obtained recognition graciously for a paraglider rescue that we did in mid-July,” stated Captain Bennett. “It was an irregular circumstance that turned out to be a really distinctive rescue. Luckily have been capable of accomplish the rescue and get the injured occasion off to the required medical care. We admire the popularity from the governor and for all of us right here at MFD. We’re simply joyful to do the job and stay up for serving extra sooner or later.”

Other than being in a tree 80 toes within the air, we requested Captain Bennett to explain probably the most difficult a part of the rescue.

“It was most likely getting them out of his harness,” he stated. “Truthfully, he is in his paragliding harness with a parachute over him, and he is injured, and so with out injuring him additional, we would have liked to extricate him and get him to the bottom. So, sure, after accessing him, eradicating an injured occasion from a parachute isn’t one thing we do day-after-day.”

Governor Gianforte stated his ‘Spirit of Montana’ award was created for simply such a heroic incident.

“I used to be actually happy to have the ability to current to them the Spirit of Montana award,” stated Governor Gianforte. “We like to search out people doing distinctive issues and that’s actually the case right here. It is what Montanans do. Neighbors serving to neighbors. “They do not know what they’ll face day-after-day after they come to work.”

Gianforte associated the information of the rescue that led to the award presentation on Thursday afternoon.

“July 16 2022, was an distinctive day,” he stated. “That they had a paraglider 80 toes up in a tree they usually needed to get him down. So I used to be happy to current to them a flag that I flew over the State Capitol of their honor together with this certificates, and it is a method to say thanks to not simply these gents, however all people that fits up each morning and involves work to guard us and be sure that they’re there once we want them.”

Additionally presenting the award was the newly appointed Mayor of Missoula, Jordan Hess.