The “Sonny Stiger Memorial Pavilion” was officially dedicated at a gathering on Sept. 7 that attracted around a 100 interested visitors to the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department Station #1.
Everett “Sonny” Stiger was an advocate for “fire ecology” and taught methods for living with fires as a part of nature. He served with the U.S. Forest Service for 28 years, then with Montana Proscribed Fire Services for another 10 years. Stiger was a consultant to the Tri-County Firesafe Working Group and was on the Lewis and Clark Fire Council until his death in 2021.
Lois Olsen, president of Tri-County FireSafe Working Group, led visitors through the demonstration fire ignition-resistant gardens the group has been developing since 2021. It is separated into irrigated and dry beds, surrounded by broadleaf trees placed on the perimeter and away from the main Montana City Fire Hall structure. The pavilion also represents Stiger’s advocacy of fire safe landscaping and “ignition resistant construction.” Built by Ric Abraham Construction, it features very little wood.
The garden demonstration at the Montana City Fire Hall is open to visitors all year. Olsen is happy to lead groups on tours and conduct discussions about using residential landscape as part of fire protection measures.
