Ranch Sees Half of Cattle Taken by Fire

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(ASHLAND, MONTANA) Crews continue to fight wildfires in southeastern Montana, and even though containment is nearing 100 percent, ranchers are just beginning to assess the effects.

Cecil Kolka, 80, has lived at his ranch near Ashland since 1935. He’s witnessed crippling fires, but none as devastating as the Ash Creek fire, which scorched more than 200,000 acres.

Kolka owns more than 800 head of cattle and half have been taken by the fire, he estimated.

Scattered deep in the pastures lay dead cattle, some piled on top of other another not able to escape. For those cattle that remained on the ridges of the fire, some have become so badly burned, they aren’t expect to survive. Another issue facing owners is the lack of adequate food and water for remaining cattle. More than 8,500 cattle are considered to be affected.

Kolka understands natural disasters but he said it doesn’t make it any easier to see his cattle killed by the fire.

Kolka was not the only rancher to lose cattle. Other livestock owners in the area will gather Thursday in Ashland at the local gym to meet with staff members of U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT). The staff will provide information about what resources are available to help recovery from the fires and prevent further losses and damages.

Also assisting livestock producers in the USDA Farm Service Agency. They are creating three programs for ranchers that include “emergency use” of acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program due to the fire. Emergency grazing is also another available option.

For now, ranchers including the Kolka’s will continue surviving with their business.

Kolka does not plan on leaving his ranch regardless of the financial impact this fire has created: “We’re pretty determined to make this home for the rest of [our lives].”

 

Source: Dustin Klemann, KTVQ

Posted by Haylie Shipp

 

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