Open letter to the Montana Fire Service,

The Montana Fire Alliance (MFA) was established nearly 25 years ago to serve as the unified legislative voice of the Montana Fire Service. It was formed when the state’s major fire associations agreed that their collective interests would be best represented through a single, coordinated organization.

The MFA board comprises members of the Montana State Volunteer Firefighters Association, the Montana State Fire Chiefs Association, the Montana Fire Trustees Association, and the Montana County Fire Wardens Association. These board members discuss important legislation for the Montana Fire Service and work together to reach a united decision that reflects the best interests of the entire group. They also liaise with John Semple, our lobbyist.

To support its lobbying work, each association contributes annual dues to the MFA. Funding the effort costs approximately $32,000 in a legislative year, covering the lobbyist contract and the Legislative “Meet and Greet,” an important opportunity to present our priorities directly to lawmakers. Because the legislature meets every other year, we have two years to raise this amount. Securing the necessary funds for this essential legislative voice has become increasingly challenging.

Many of you reading this have directly benefited from the MFA’s work in Helena. Many more of you have received benefits, financial or otherwise, that you may not even be aware of, all thanks to MFA representation at the Capitol in Helena. The MFA reviews every proposed bill that is presented in committee, evaluates it, and determines the impact to all our organizations throughout Montana.  We then create a unified position to educate and inform legislators regarding the impacts of each bill on our ability to protect lives, property, and the resilience of Montana’s fire service and communities. This representation comes at a cost—a cost that we will continue to bear on behalf of the Fire organizations, and we ask that you consider supporting our ongoing effort to advocate for our Montana Fie Organizations.

We ask each of you to recognize the vital role this collective organization plays for every fire agency in Montana. The Montana Fire Alliance is the only unified voice working to protect our interests in the Legislature, and its effectiveness depends entirely on our shared commitment. Please ensure your association budgets for and supports this essential resource so we can continue advocating for the needs of the Montana Fire Service.

Thank you for your consideration,

Montana Fire Alliance