Rehberg Lawsuit

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By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Jul 6, 2010 at 6:15 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 7, 2010 at 2:24 PM MDT

BILLINGS - Rehberg Ranch, a development owned by Congressman Denny Rehberg, has filed suit against the City of Billings and the Billings Fire Department following a fire two years ago.

The Rehberg Ranch fire was started by lightning July 2, 2008. It rekindled on the 4th, burning more than 1,100 acres. In a lawsuit filed Friday, Rehberg Ranch, LLC contends the fire department "…negligently or intentionally left the fire scene," allowing the fire to rekindle and causing damage to the property.

About 40 homes were evacuated, but no injuries were reported, and no structures were damaged. Chief Paul Dextras with the Billings Fire Department said he stands by his department.

"Saving lives is our priority," he said. "Saving property is our next priority. Being able to contain that fire on a 100-degree day in high winds. I cannot give enough credit to the men and women in the fire service that gave up their holiday and went to Rehberg Ranch and extinguished that fire."

Rehberg is running for a 6th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. His democratic challenger released a statement asking Rehberg to dismiss the lawsuit and apologize to the firefighters.

Rehberg issued a statement Tuesday saying, "It's unfortunate that some folks are mischaracterizing this situation for political gain … Jan and I have the deepest respect for firefighters and the dangerous work they do here in Billings."

Rehberg's lawyers said in a statement they tried to settle the matter with the city, but the city administrator declined their offer.

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NCLOCAL said on Thursday, Jul 8 at 9:31 PM

if you were the first on the fire you should have been the IC until somebody with more QUal than you should up insted of turning the fire over to a city fire department YOU ROOKIE take pride in your work and get a PAIR OF BA__S and as far as max and tester they are trying to clean up 10 years of republickins POOR LEADERSHIP

A priviledged out of touch richie rich said on Wednesday, Jul 7 at 12:32 PM

He has lost his roots and connection to the community. Time to vote him out!

BS Radar said on Wednesday, Jul 7 at 7:55 AM

A republican is suing government because it isn't big enough? Hypocrite!

DPS said on Wednesday, Jul 7 at 6:54 AM

Good thinking Joe Public stick another democrap in office. You see what it's gotten us the last two years. 'Ol Max who visits us once a year, Johnny boy who hasn't seen the tips of his boots in 20 years and that clown in the white house.

Joe Public said on Wednesday, Jul 7 at 6:35 AM

Election time is a coming.. Rehberg's comment to this was dumb to say the least. I'll vote NO for this man at the box this time.

LWC said on Tuesday, Jul 6 at 7:42 PM

I was the very first firefighter on ther scene on July 2. I called for the city because I realized it was inside city limits. Two other departments showed up before the city did. When I talked to a city firefighter on their first brush truck to let him know whose jurisdiction it was, he blew me off saying it was BLM land. It was NOT! The city left before others, doing very little mop up. On July 3, the fire took off again - burning to the southwest. Once again, I was the first on the scene. It was clearly the city's jurisdiction and once again they must have pulled out without proper mop up. The third time, on the 4'th, I was out of town, but everyone knows what happened. Sad to say, but the BFD clearly failed to mop up and patrol the fire into the next day. Billings certainly got in way over their heads by annexing 800 acres of wildland into city limits when their fire department had no clue, by their own admission, of what the land consisted of or the boundries.

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