HELENA - The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 260 at their Feb. 21 hearing. If signed into law, the bill would establish the Trenton Johnson Memorial Highway on Highway 83 between mile marker 14, just south of Seeley Lake, north to Lake Inez at mile marker 22, signage will mark the section of Highway 83 and state highway maps must be updated to include the name Trenton Johnson Memorial Highway.
“My goal was to honor our amazing firefighters, particularly Trenton Johnson who risked and lost his life and the sacrifice of his family. I can only imagine their sorrow and was certainly thinking of them and my own son as I read the resolution,” wrote bill sponsor Senator Sue Malek (D) - SD46.
Malek choose the stretch of Highway 83 that includes downtown Seeley Lake and north to Lake Inez to recognize the hardships and sacrifice Seeley Lake residences endured during the 2017 fire season.
“I attended a Forest Service fire briefing in Seeley during the height of the fire,” wrote Malek. “The description of the extreme fire activity, the obvious exhaustion of the firefighters, seeing their huge tent camp and talking to residents who were living in their RVs outside the area has remained vividly with me.”
Malek said she learned just before the hearing that Johnson was not the first firefighter who was killed near Seeley Lake.
In a comment from Seeley Lake resident and historian Ron Cox, Cox said that Frank “Stubby” Moore was killed about a half mile from the Florence fire incident in 1949. Moore was 18-years-old and in his first season as a wildland firefighter. While mopping up a fire on Rice Ridge the night of Aug. 4, 1949, a falling snag hit and killed him.
During Malek’s testimony at the committee hearing she briefly touched on Moore’s story,
“People of Seeley Lake really appreciate this remembrance of what they go through periodically as well as remembering this young man [Trenton Johnson],” said Malek.
Malek was emotional as she read the bill. Johnson was a 2016 graduate of Hellgate High School, scholar, member of Hellgate’s four-time state champion lacrosse team, sophomore at Montana State University and first year firefighter with Grayback Forestry when he lost his life July 19, 2017. He was part of the initial attack crew on the Florence Fire near Seeley Lake and was struck by a falling tree snag.
“We all have children,” said Malek after reading the bill. “This loss of life and heroic effort to save the town of Seeley Lake is my honor to bring to you. I recommend due pass.”
Mike O’Herron, area manager for the SW Land office for the Montana Department of Natural Resources, spoke in support of the bill as a partner on behalf of the US Forest Service Chief John Tubbs and State Forester Sonya Germann.
“Dedicating a segment of the Highway to Trent Johnson will memorialize the enormous sacrifice he and other fallen firefighters made to safeguard Montanans,” said O’Herron.
Johnson’s long-time friend, fellow lacrosse player and wildland firefighter Lee Adler also spoke in support of the bill. He started fighting fire in 2017 with Johnson and now works on the DNRC Clearwater Unit.
“It would serve as a reminder to Clearwater firefighters and interagency fire crews to remain safe and vigilant when they are out fighting,” said Adler. “I think this highway would be a great way to memorize him and provide a reminder to firefighters as they dispatch in Clearwater’s north protection to continue protecting the state of Montana.”
Malek told the committee she has spoken to the Johnson family through Adler and they feel it is appropriate.
No one opposed the bill at the committee hearing. The committee passed SB 260 unanimously.
Malek expects SB 260 to be heard before the Senate early this week. She is hopeful it will be signed into law by Governor Steve Bullock by mid-March at which point it will be effective immediately.
In his comment, Cox asked Malek if the name of the Highway could include Moore since, “Stubby is probably just as deserving for an honor.”
Malek responded in an email that she was saddened to learn about Stubby’s death but it was too late to amend the name. She suggested a historical sign in Seeley Lake focusing on the 1949 and 2017 fires and the young firefighters who died in them.
“I would suggest people interested in moving this forward work through the Community Council,” wrote Malek. “I will certainly help along the way, if there is anything I can do.”
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