Bigfork, MT, Firefighters Need Help to Build Station, Add Staff

May 30—The Bigfork Fire District Board of Trustees recently approved a bond initiative and mill levy to present to voters in a Sept. 9 special election that will address infrastructure and staffing deficiencies.

Bigfork Fire Department officials say they are experiencing increased calls for service while grappling with aging buildings, outdated equipment and limited staff.

"Our emergency responders are doing life-saving work with limited resources," Fire Chief Jeremy Patton said in a news release. "These investments will help us make strides in the safety and resilience of our community."

The bond initiative seeks funding to replace and upgrade aging facilities that no longer meet current safety, design and operational standards. Stations 31, 32 and 33 have reached end-of-life conditions and fail to meet the needs of firefighter health, safety and operations, according to the department.

If approved, the bond will fund a new Fire District headquarters and Station 31 on 8.65 acres owned by the Fire District, replacing the current station on a 0.26-acre lot. The new facility will include administrative offices, modern living quarters, training space and apparatus bays, designed to serve Bigfork for the next 50 years.

It will also pay for repairs and upgrades to Station 32 and Station 33 facilities.

The mill levy would address critical staffing shortfalls impacting the department's ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. Current staffing includes three full-time firefighters per shift, which the department says is insufficient given the rising call volume.

The department also provides advanced Emergency Medical Services, with those calls making up more than 80% of total emergency calls. These calls often tie up all available firefighters for extended periods, delaying responses to concurrent emergencies.

If passed, the mill levy will support the hiring of additional firefighters (increasing the on-duty staff from three to up to five per shift), improve firefighter pay to attract and retain skilled personnel, purchasing of additional safety gear and equipment for new and current firefighters, as well as provide enhanced training, including specialized certifications.

The mill levy would also ensure continuing 24/7 Advanced Life Support (Paramedic) EMS availability.

Total project and funding costs are still being calculated, according to the release.

More information and voter resources will be available in the coming weeks. Community members interested in receiving additional information and updates as they become available may email Al Benitez, Bigfork Fire Public Information Officer, at [email protected].

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