Wildland fire suppression.
Since 1988.
Family-owned contractor running engines, water tenders, and carded crews under federal agreements with the U.S. Forest Service.
Nearly four decades on the fireline.
Brenteson Fire is a family-owned wildland firefighting company based in Conrad and Belgrade, Montana. Founded in 1988 with a single water tender, we've grown steadily by doing one thing well: showing up with dependable equipment and disciplined crews when agencies call.
Today we operate a fleet of wildland engines and water tenders under federal Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements with the U.S. Forest Service, supporting suppression efforts alongside federal, state, and local agencies. Some seasons bring long deployments and hard miles. Others are quieter. Either way, our standard doesn't change — maintained equipment, qualified operators, and a crew that represents this company with professionalism on every assignment.
We're a small operation by design. The people who own this company are the same people who inspect the trucks, train the crews, and answer the phone.
Our lane: wildland only.
We do not provide structural firefighting. Brenteson Fire operates exclusively in wildland fire suppression and support under established incident command systems and federal safety standards. Knowing our lane is part of how we've stayed on the line since 1988.
Maintained. Inspected. Ready to roll.
Every unit is maintained to federal and state contracting standards and inspected before the season and before every deployment. Our equipment is our reputation.
Type 4 Engines
SuppressionHeavy wildland engines built for direct attack and structure defense in rough country.
- 750+ gallon water capacity
- NWCG-typed pump and hose complement
- Staffed by carded engine crews
Type 6 Engines
Initial AttackFast, agile initial-attack engines for tight access, mop-up, and patrol work.
- 300-gallon tank with pump-and-roll capability
- Heavy-duty Ford F-550 4×4 chassis
- Built for narrow trails and rugged terrain
Type 2 Water Tenders
Water HandlingHigh-capacity tenders keeping engines and drop points supplied on extended incidents.
- 2,500+ gallon capacity
- Under USFS Water Handling agreement
- CDL operators with current DOT medical
Vehicle with Driver
SupportContracted Pickup Type 1 supporting incident logistics, crew movement, and command needs.
- 2022 Ford F-350 Crew Cab, long bed, 4×4, 6.7L diesel
- Under USFS Vehicle with Driver agreement
- Qualified, insured company driver
Carded crews, current quals.
Every Brenteson Fire crew member carries current NWCG qualifications, an annual RT-130 refresher, and a current-year Work Capacity (Pack) Test before they set foot on an assignment.
Engine Boss
Supervises engine operations and crew safety on the line, coordinating directly with incident command.
Firefighter Type 1
Advanced squad-level firefighters leading tactical work and mentoring newer crew members.
Firefighter Type 2
The backbone of the crew — trained, tested, and fit for sustained wildland fire suppression work.
Tender Operator
CDL-licensed drivers with current DOT medical cards operating our water handling equipment.
Safety is non-negotiable. We follow all federal and agency protocols — PPE meeting interagency standards, current fire shelters, situational awareness, and continuous training. Our people come home from every assignment.
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
×
Fight fire with a family outfit.
We hire seasonal wildland firefighters and tender operators for the fire season. This is on-call contract work — when a resource order comes in, we roll, and assignments can run up to 14 days on the line plus travel.
You'll work on well-maintained equipment with experienced leadership, get fed and housed on assignment per agency standards, and be part of a crew where the owners are on the trucks with you.
Minimum to get on the line: current NWCG Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) qualification, a current-year RT-130 refresher, and a passing arduous Pack Test. Tender operators also need a CDL and current DOT medical card. If you're close but not fully carded, reach out anyway — we can point you toward training.
How to apply
Email us with the subject line "Crew Application" and include:
- Full name, phone, and where you're based
- Highest NWCG qualification (FFT2 minimum) and red card agency
- RT-130 and Pack Test status for the current year
- Fire seasons worked and references, if any
- Availability for the upcoming season
- CDL / DOT medical status, if applying to run tenders
Get in touch.
Agency representatives, dispatch, land managers, and prospective crew members — reach us directly. A member of our team will respond as soon as possible.