Cost of Fighting Lolo Peak Fire Over $1.6 Million, Now at $400,000 Per Day

Fire suppression is an expensive business, even when there’s not a huge ground force actively battling a blaze. Firefighters on the Lolo Peak Fire near highway 12 are working on building control line four to six miles away from the fire. Fire information officer Leigh Golden explains how much had been spent as of Friday.

Right now, the estimated cost is $1.6 million: we have eight crews, seven engines, three helicopters and 359 people assigned to the fire. The cost per day, currently, is about $400,000."

Golden explains where all that money goes.

"We have contracted heavy equipment, it pays for helicopters, crews, and in addition, all that cost encompass the cost to feed us, to house us, to bathe us, and so forth," Golden said.

Golden says that after crews finish the control line, which is down closer to the highway, crews will begin working on creating a containment line further up slope.