Who We Are
Proudly serving the tri-county area since 1984 to promote wildfire risk awareness, mitigation, and community safety.
Our MIssion & Vision
Tri-County Firesafe Working Group’s (TCFSWG) mission is to promote wildfire risk awareness and improve community wildfire safety in the tri-county area (Lewis & Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater Counties of Montana).
Our vision is that neighborhoods and communities in this area are resilient to the impacts of wildfire, and that people are well-informed about how to live safely in our wildfire-prone ecosystem.
Our Story
Following the North Hills Fire of 1984, (just north of Helena, Montana) the concept of the Tri-County FireSafe Working Group was initiated with the primary mission of fire prevention education in the community. Our early focus was on wildfire prevention, structure and infrastructure protection, emergency preparedness and response and evacuation planning. In 2000 the organization expanded its role into fuel reduction mitigation projects. In 2015, we became established as a 501(c)3 organization.
Our organization consists of a broad spectrum of stakeholders including federal and state land managers and wildfire officials, county, and city government as well as private citizens and contractors.
To preserve and enhance the areas natural and manmade resources, we collaborate across public and private sectors to make homes, businesses, properties, neighborhoods, communities, and the landscape more fire safe. Our programs and activities are designed to help property owners reduce their fire risks and to live more safely in a wildfire environment. These programs include:
- Outreach & education
- Free wildfire risk assessments and project plans
- Cost-sharing for risk reduction and defensible space improvements on private lands
- Community Wildfire Protection Planning
- Fire Wise Demonstration Garden
Meet our Team
Board of Directors
Our volunteer board of directors bring years of experience and passion for TCFSWG’s mission.
Lois Olsen, President. Lois joined the Tri-County Board in 2017 after having worked with Tri-County during her career on the Helena National Forest. She retired from the Helena National Forest in 2012 after 34 years of service. Lois was the Forest Ecologist, where she collected and analyzed vegetation data from wildfires, logging, and livestock grazing activities. She served on Fire Management Teams and participated in prescribed fire activities for many years. She strongly supports the mission and goals of this organization and is very interested in helping people make their property and homes more fire safe.
Ed Shindoll, Vice President I. Representing Broadwater County, Ed brings leadership and valuable experiences to TCFSWG. Ed joined the Broadwater Rural Fire District as a volunteer fire fighter in 1989 and became the Fire Chief of the District in 1998. Ed has seen a lot of devastation from fires in his 36 years as a fire fighter. He is a strong believer in the goals and programs that TCFSWG is accomplishing in the tri county area.
Brad Langsather, Vice President II. Brad has worked for the City of Helena as their Open Lands and Watershed Project Manager since 2008. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Biology from Fort Lewis College, Durango Co. in 1988 and embarked on a career as a professional forester that has spanned over 35 years. Prior to his tenure with the City of Helena, Brad managed forestry programs for the U.S.F.S., Louisiana Pacific Corporation, Smurfit Stone Container Corporation, and Sun Mountain Lumber, Inc. In 2014, he was awarded a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Performance for his work in Helena’s Upper Tenmile Creek Municipal Watershed.
Jim Smith, Secretary. Jim was the long time elected mayor of Helena, from 2002 thru 2017. During his tenure the City undertook its fire mitigation efforts in the areas surrounding Helena: the open lands, south hills, Mount Helena, Mount Ascension, the gulches and in the Upper Ten Mile water system. Jim advocated for the funding, staffing and logistics involved with protecting the Capital city from the devastating impacts of wildfire. He is a 1970 graduate of Carroll College. He is married to Katherine. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Staff
Our qualified contractors and employees are dedicated to applying TCFSWG’s mission on the ground.
Craig Kockler, Fuels Mitigation Specialist. Craig was born and raised in Helena, MT. He worked for the Helena Ranger District/Helena National Forest, US Forest Service from 1991 until his retirement in 2021. Craig served as a wildland firefighter on a Type 6 wildland fire engine for much of his career, suppressing wildland fires locally to across the Nation. He has always had a passion for fuels management throughout his career and retired in a Fuels Technician position after treating thousands of acres across the Helena Ranger District. In 2016 Craig was awarded the Dave Larsen Memorial Fire Fighter Before Suppression Award. Craig now serves as a fuels mitigation specialist independent contractor.
