PLAINS - According to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) official website, the agency’s mission is, “... to help ensure that Montana’s land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.” The forestry division is responsible for planning and implementing forestry and fire management programs.

Friday, as the sun began to rise over the old tarmac at the airport in Plains, the members of the DNRC gathered for a required pack test. With fires already starting, the DNRC is gearing up for the forest fire season. Every member of the service must prove that they are physically capable of fighting the fires to come, and starting at 9:30am, the members of the Sanders County DNRC division set out to prove it. In 45 minutes or less, the service members had to walk, not run, with a 45 pound pack for three miles along the tarmac.

Some of the members moved quicker than the others and maintained a strong pace. Even the slower ones demonstrated they were capable, maintaining solid strides. As the faster members moved by the slower ones coming back from reaching the furthest point of the tarmac, they high-fived and encouraged each other along.

With the still air of the morning and the cloudless sky, the service members were not the only ones out on the tarmac. A small remote control plane flew over their heads, flown by Bruce Nelson, an avid RC plane flier.

Every one of the service members completed the test within the time limit. A few finished at the 44 minute mark, but there were none that had to redo the test.

Calvin Minemyer, one of the service members, said, “We will do it again probably around the end of May when we get the rest of the fire crew on.” He then added that the crew may take on another five more members.