VIDEO: Filling up at the pump is costing Montanans and it is putting a strain on our communities' rural first responders.
“You know our budget just doesn't go up because gas prices are up, so we have to absorb that somewhere,” said Mel Holtz with the Frenchtown Rural Fire District firefighter.
Holtz said they have seen a 20-to-30% increase in calls from this time last year, making the current pump prices hurt.
“Having a smaller department with a smaller budget, you definitely have to get creative,” Holtz told MTN News.
Frenchtown isn’t the only department looking at reallocating funds due to these high prices. The big rigs at the Florence Volunteer Fire Department hold up to 100 gallons of diesel and with gas prices being close to $6 per gallon it takes nearly $600 to fill one of these up if on empty.