By Jim Larson
ButteNews
April 16, 2025
As the Butte-Siver Bow firefighter controversy continues, coverage of the conflict created conflicting news reports. KXLF reporter Meghan Thompson reported that a presentation of the study commissioned by Butte-Silver Bow was delayed because “ a presentation of the study was placed on hold after communication between a county commissioner and the study administrators broke down.” Her source was BSB Fire Chief Zach Osborne.
A conflicting version of the cause of the delay was offered by Montana Standard reporter Mike Smith. In Smith’s reporting, the presentation was delayed because “They [the consultants] felt the tensions were so stressful here that they didn’t want to come back and have anything to do with it (a presentation),”
Smith’s story did mention that a conflict between a firefighter and a county commissioner fueled the controversy. He also cited Chief Osborne as the source.
The study was finally presented to the B-SB commissioners on March 20, NBC Montana reported. The presenting firm, Emergency Services Consulting International, charged the county $60,000.
