Otter recalls lost firefighter, calls for more fire protection associations

Gov. Butch Otter recalled Anne Veseth, the 20-year-old college student and seasonal firefighter who was killed in August while fighting a fire in Clearwater County. “We owe her and thousans like her a fighting chance while protecting our forests and rangelands,” Otter said. “That’s why my budget includes a $400,000 request to help create four more volunteer fire protection associations,” like one formed last summer by ranchers in the Mountain Home area. Otter said such groups could help fight and prevent catastrophic wildfires.