O'Quinn Represents Colleton - Fights Fires in Montana

O'Quinn and a charred Montana mountain

The paradigm of changing weather patterns is clear when observing how wet the Eastern United States is, in comparison to how dry and parched it is out West. Wildfires in several Western states have been burning out of control all summer and continue to make the national news broadcasts. Experienced wildland firefighters from the East Coast get called upon to travel West in order to provide the necessary manpower, spending two weeks on the front lines. Colleton County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn accepted this call of duty, traveling to Montana from August 6 – 22, joining an eight-man crew from South Carolina. 

“The system works pretty well, and the first step in the process is I have to take my annual leave time off from Colleton Fire,’ said O’Quinn. “The cooperative agreement is with the S.C. Forestry Commission, and not Colleton County. I do take pay during my two-weeks on the fire, but that comes from the U.S. Forest Service and I am listed as a casual hire. I take classes during the year so that if I get called out West during fire season I am good to go.” O’Quinn served his country as a Marine in the past, and he is well-suited for any challenge because of his Can Do attitude. 

A lightning strike is the suspected culprit for the Whitetail Creek Fire in Montana, that eventually spread to 340-acres, where O’Quinn spent his 14-day tour. 

The eight-man crew from S.C.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Press and Standard. 

To view more from Western Fires click on 2018