An Urgent Need
Imagine you or a loved one are experiencing a medical emergency. You call 911 and are told the paramedics are addressing another emergency and will get to you as soon as they can. You have no idea how long that will be. An already immensely stressful situation has just become even more aggravated. We at the Bigfork Fire Department are the folks who provide ambulance services for the village and surrounding area, and we are running out of resources to adequately do our jobs. This severely impacts our abilities and puts the entire community at risk.
Calls have increased significantly, and more than 80% of the calls received by the department are for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). And one-third of the time, a second emergency call comes in while the crew is busy with the first emergency. Staffing limitations make responding to concurrent emergencies complex, and the above scenario is a very real possibility. The longer we wait to fund real changes, the greater the likelihood that a response to your emergency will be delayed. Since any delay in receiving critical medical care can affect your health and safety, now is the time to act.
The Bigfork Fire Department provides all of the firefighting, EMS, and public safety services to Bigfork and the surrounding area. This includes structure and wildland fires, traffic accidents, river and lake rescues, steep terrain rescues, hazardous material spills, public service calls (trees and power lines down, gas leaks, etc.), and most importantly, Advanced Life Support (ALS or paramedic) ambulance services for illness, injury, and major trauma. The Bigfork Fire District serves a 75-square-mile area covering parts of both Flathead and Lake counties. Our ambulances cover a more expansive 186-square-mile EMS District, which encompasses parts of Creston, all of Ferndale, the Swan Valley, and north of Condon, as well as south along the east lakeshore to just north of Blue Bay.
We currently have three fire stations that are nearing end of life. Our main station is 45 years old, having been built as a garage and meeting hall – not for full-time staffing - and is too small for both current and future needs. Additionally, it cannot be expanded on the small quarter-acre lot. Our vehicles range from 1988 to 2024 model years, some of them older than our firefighters. Half of that fleet needs to be replaced in the next five years at an estimated cost of $4.2 million – money that we currently do not have. And our challenges don’t end there. While we are short-staffed, few firefighters can afford to live within the district. As a result, the availability of off-duty personnel to respond in a timely manner to critical events is severely limited. Neighboring communities can pay significantly higher wages, meaning that Bigfork is missing out on retaining top talent and keeping local firefighters and EMTs within the community they’re eager to serve.
Many residents have expressed their support for the department's work and have witnessed firsthand the benefits of the services it provides. What these same folks are often surprised to hear is how much we do with so little. That can no longer continue. We’re now at the point where we must ask for your help so we can continue serving the community with excellence for years to come.
Calls have increased significantly, and more than 80% of the calls received by the department are for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). And one-third of the time, a second emergency call comes in while the crew is busy with the first emergency. Staffing limitations make responding to concurrent emergencies complex, and the above scenario is a very real possibility. The longer we wait to fund real changes, the greater the likelihood that a response to your emergency will be delayed. Since any delay in receiving critical medical care can affect your health and safety, now is the time to act.
The Bigfork Fire Department provides all of the firefighting, EMS, and public safety services to Bigfork and the surrounding area. This includes structure and wildland fires, traffic accidents, river and lake rescues, steep terrain rescues, hazardous material spills, public service calls (trees and power lines down, gas leaks, etc.), and most importantly, Advanced Life Support (ALS or paramedic) ambulance services for illness, injury, and major trauma. The Bigfork Fire District serves a 75-square-mile area covering parts of both Flathead and Lake counties. Our ambulances cover a more expansive 186-square-mile EMS District, which encompasses parts of Creston, all of Ferndale, the Swan Valley, and north of Condon, as well as south along the east lakeshore to just north of Blue Bay.
We currently have three fire stations that are nearing end of life. Our main station is 45 years old, having been built as a garage and meeting hall – not for full-time staffing - and is too small for both current and future needs. Additionally, it cannot be expanded on the small quarter-acre lot. Our vehicles range from 1988 to 2024 model years, some of them older than our firefighters. Half of that fleet needs to be replaced in the next five years at an estimated cost of $4.2 million – money that we currently do not have. And our challenges don’t end there. While we are short-staffed, few firefighters can afford to live within the district. As a result, the availability of off-duty personnel to respond in a timely manner to critical events is severely limited. Neighboring communities can pay significantly higher wages, meaning that Bigfork is missing out on retaining top talent and keeping local firefighters and EMTs within the community they’re eager to serve.
Many residents have expressed their support for the department's work and have witnessed firsthand the benefits of the services it provides. What these same folks are often surprised to hear is how much we do with so little. That can no longer continue. We’re now at the point where we must ask for your help so we can continue serving the community with excellence for years to come.
Challenges Include:
Call Volume & Growth
- Over the past decade, the annual emergency call volume has nearly doubled, increasing from 316 in 2010 to more than 1,239 calls in 2024.
- We are currently 10% ahead of last year’s call volume year-to-date.
- Bigfork continues to grow, both with new residents and an increase in visitors and tourism.
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Fire Protection District:
75 square miles EMS District: 186 square miles |
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Staffing
- We currently employ only two full-time firefighters and one officer per shift.
- We need two more firefighters per shift to allow for immediate response to overlapping EMS calls or a major fire.
- Staffing pay is 30-50% lower than that of other neighboring fire departments, contributing significantly to decreased employee morale and retention rates.
- We are experiencing difficulty attracting and retaining well-trained personnel, which results in less desirable outcomes for the community.
- Our last hiring announcement for firefighter/paramedics received zero applications.
Facilities
- The existing main fire station was built in 1980 and is too small and outdated to effectively meet today’s needs.
- The small lot size does not allow for needed expansion.
- The building was never designed for fulltime occupancy; allowing diesel exhaust and contaminants to permeate the living, eating, sleeping, and workspaces.
- Current facilities are insufficient for accommodating modern fire trucks and emergency vehicles.
- Storage of turnout gear and emergency medical equipment is non-compliant with current safety standards, compromising the integrity of the gear and posing a health and safety risk to the firefighters.
Apparatus
- The cost of replacing vehicles has increased significantly. A fire engine that used to cost $400,000-500,000 is now $1.2 million. An ambulance is now $400,000.
- We try and replace ambulances and light trucks every 7-10 years. Heavy equipment is on a 30-year replacement schedule.
- We need $4.2 million in today’s dollars for scheduled vehicle replacement in the next five years. While we have been saving, we are still more than $2 million short.
Equipment
- Each firefighter needs $25,000 in protective equipment that needs to be replaced when damaged or at 10-year intervals.
- Our part-time and volunteer staff also need protective equipment. They currently use older second-line surplus equipment that may be outdated or not fit properly.
- Everything has a replacement life. Equipment gets damaged in use. The replacement process is ongoing.
Training
- Training is an essential part of our job.
- Training includes firefighting, emergency medical, rescue, hazardous materials, extrication, communications, decontamination, and much more.
- Nothing stays the same. Traffic accidents now include the challenges of lithium battery fires. House fires can include battery backup systems, solar, the heavy use of plastics and synthetics, and many other hazards.
- Training is often conducted outdoors or off-site due to limited indoor facilities, creating challenging training conditions.
A bond initiative and a mill levy have been proposed to tackle existing facility and staffing challenges while planning for future growth.
The Bond will finance the construction of a new main fire station, Station 31.
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The Fire District purchased the 8.65-acre property at 925 Chapman Hill Road in 2018. The property is now debt-free. Starting in 2022, the Fire District engaged architects and engineering firms to design a new Station 31 that meets all current and foreseeable future needs for its 50-year life. That facility will include an administrative wing housing Fire District Headquarters and Fire Department command and administrative staff; a firefighter living/working wing comprised of bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, dining, dayroom, office, workspace, gym, and storage spaces; a public lobby and restrooms, and a multi-purpose meeting/training room; five pull-through apparatus bays, a decontamination wash bay; a workshop; a gear wash room; decontamination showers, a medical aid room; storage areas for immediate need and long-term storage items; and all furnishings, fixtures, and equipment for immediate occupancy.
The building is designed with a positive pressure air system that filters and conditions air in the living/working/sleeping areas, keeping contaminants and diesel exhaust particulates from penetrating these areas. The building is supported by an emergency generator with on-site propane, as well as driveways, aprons, and parking areas for staff and the public. Additionally, it features an emergency medical helicopter landing area and landscaping designed to blend into the surrounding environment.
The building is designed with a positive pressure air system that filters and conditions air in the living/working/sleeping areas, keeping contaminants and diesel exhaust particulates from penetrating these areas. The building is supported by an emergency generator with on-site propane, as well as driveways, aprons, and parking areas for staff and the public. Additionally, it features an emergency medical helicopter landing area and landscaping designed to blend into the surrounding environment.
TimelineIf the bond initiative is passed, the architect and engineering firms will finish the design of the new Station 31 and provide a set of buildable plans. Those plans will be used to solicit bids for the construction of the station.
New Station 31 construction is expected to commence in Spring/Summer 2026, with building occupancy anticipated by Summer 2027. The sale of the old Station 31 is expected to be finalized by early 2028. |
CostEstimated Cost to Taxpayer
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The Mill Levy Will Support Increased Staffing, Equipment, Vehicles, Training, and Operating Expenses
The Mill Levy will allow us to increase staffing:
- Recruit and hire additional firefighters to increase the per-shift staffing level from three to five, as dictated by call volume.
- Evaluate regional firefighter compensation and raise Bigfork firefighter pay to comparable levels to ensure the retention of qualified personnel.
- Purchase and maintain additional firefighter equipment and safety gear for current and new hires and part-time/volunteer staff.
- Provide enhanced operational support for increased staffing.
- Provide basic and specialized firefighter training as required for all staff.
- Ensure the 24/7 availability of Advanced Life Support (Paramedic) EMS Services.
Upon receipt of additional funding, staffing needs will be evaluated and additional full-time firefighters will be hired as required. Training, equipment, and safety gear will be provided, as needed, for new and current firefighters.
The department will evaluate regional firefighter compensation and determine comparable salary and benefit levels to recruit and retain qualified employees. All changes to employee compensation levels are subject to approval by the Bigfork Fire District Board of Trustees and contract negotiations with unionized firefighters.
Timeline
If the mill levy is passed, the hiring and training of new firefighters will begin immediately. It is anticipated that all project goals will be completed in the first half of 2026.
The Mill Levy will allow us to replace end-of-life vehicles and equipment:
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TimelineAll evaluations and determinations will be completed by the end of 2025.
Orders will be placed as soon as practical in FY26. |
CostEstimated cost to taxpayers:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will out of district residents benefit from this bond and mill without paying the additional tax?
The area served by the Bigfork Fire Department for EMS calls is significantly larger than the fire district. The bond initiative and mill levy will only be assessed to properties within the 75-square-mile fire district. Residents living in the larger 186-square-mile EMS district outside of the district will not contribute to the bond or mill levy through taxes. To help offset the cost of responding to these calls, the fire district charges a $200 out-of-district fee per incident. These out-of-district calls account for about 12% of the district’s total service volume. The fee helps ensure that those who do not pay into the local tax base still share in the cost of the services they receive.
When will the bond and mill levy appear on my property tax bill?
The Mill Levy will be assessed in 2025, meaning residents will see it reflected on their next property tax bill. The Bond will be assessed in the following tax year so that taxpayers won’t see both increases at once. It’s also important to note that the bond is a fixed total amount spread across all properties in the district, so as the population and number of taxable properties change, the amount paid per taxpayer will decrease.
What will be the impacts of the new location? Will there be traffic impacts?
The new location of Station 31, located on a much larger piece of property, is approximately 2 miles north of the existing station. Both the old and new station front Highway 35, allowing for quick emergency access to the surrounding area.
Routine, non-emergency access to and from the new fire station will occur through the driveway on Chapman Hill Road. Chapman Hill Road at Highway 35 may receive a traffic signal in the future, benefiting residents coming from the west and the new residents coming from the new subdivision being built on the east side of Highway 35.
One of the determining factors for homeowners/fire insurance rates is the location of the nearest fire station. By moving the existing fire station to this new location, more Bigfork addresses will be included in the five-road mile rule for lower insurance rates.
Routine, non-emergency access to and from the new fire station will occur through the driveway on Chapman Hill Road. Chapman Hill Road at Highway 35 may receive a traffic signal in the future, benefiting residents coming from the west and the new residents coming from the new subdivision being built on the east side of Highway 35.
One of the determining factors for homeowners/fire insurance rates is the location of the nearest fire station. By moving the existing fire station to this new location, more Bigfork addresses will be included in the five-road mile rule for lower insurance rates.
Will the new facility accommodate current and future growth?
The new facility has been painstakingly designed to accommodate all current and anticipated future needs with a minimum 50-year life span while minimizing the building size. As Bigfork grows, staffing at the other fire stations is anticipated to address that growth. That said, the new station has been designed such that each of the three wings (sleeping wing, administrative wing, and apparatus bays) can be easily expanded with minimal operational impacts.
What will happen to the existing building if a new station is built?
It is anticipated that the old Station 31 will be sold, and the proceeds will be used to update and repair Stations 32 (built in 1996) and 33 (built in 1994), as well as help purchase the necessary replacement vehicles and equipment. The old station will not be sold until the new station is fully completed.
What will happen if the bond doesn’t pass?
The Fire District Board of Trustees has spent many years discussing and planning for the fire department’s needs. As Bigfork continued to grow, calls continued to increase, and resources were stretched. The Board acknowledged that the current main fire station could not be remodeled or enlarged to meet the requirements. The triangular quarter-acre of land where the old station is located does not allow for any expansion to accommodate current or future needs. As such, they purchased a large parcel of land for a new fire station in 2018.
The current 45-year-old building is unsafe due to contaminants, too small to accommodate current vehicles and equipment, in poor condition generally, and has outlived its original purpose. The Board has considered many alternatives over the years, deciding the best course of action was a new fire station on a larger parcel of land.
The costs of everything, including construction, continue to increase every year. It is estimated that new building construction costs will increase 5% annually. Every year we wait means the same building will cost more to build. Waiting just one year means a potential additional $750,000 in cost increases.
We are truly out of viable options. If the bond does not pass this year, we will be forced to put the same alternative on a future ballot at a higher cost while continuing to operate out of an unsafe and inadequate facility.
The current 45-year-old building is unsafe due to contaminants, too small to accommodate current vehicles and equipment, in poor condition generally, and has outlived its original purpose. The Board has considered many alternatives over the years, deciding the best course of action was a new fire station on a larger parcel of land.
The costs of everything, including construction, continue to increase every year. It is estimated that new building construction costs will increase 5% annually. Every year we wait means the same building will cost more to build. Waiting just one year means a potential additional $750,000 in cost increases.
We are truly out of viable options. If the bond does not pass this year, we will be forced to put the same alternative on a future ballot at a higher cost while continuing to operate out of an unsafe and inadequate facility.
What will happen if the Mill Levy doesn’t pass?
The Mill Levy’s primary purpose is to increase staffing to improve critical emergency services and reduce response times. With our current staffing, we can respond to only one emergency call at a time. And one-third of the time, we currently receive two calls in close proximity.
Here is what that means:
If we receive an emergency medical call, we can staff an ambulance and quickly respond. Depending upon the severity of the illness/injury, call location, weather, and traffic, our on-duty crew may be away from the station for up to 3 hours. That includes responding to the scene, addressing the medical issue (traffic accident, entrapment, rescue, etc.), driving to the hospital in Kalispell, ensuring a successful patient transfer to hospital staff, cleaning and restocking the ambulance, and returning to the fire station.
While they are gone, no one is at the fire station for any other calls. If a second emergency were to occur, we would try to get volunteers to come to the station and handle the call. We would also ask neighboring volunteer fire departments to assist. Depending upon personnel availability, there will be a substantial delay in our response. If an out-of-district ambulance were needed, that would come from either Lakeside or Evergreen, again with a substantial delay.
If we add two additional firefighters per shift, it will allow us to staff two ambulances simultaneously or handle the initial response to two emergency calls. While we still may need the help of our volunteer staff and neighboring fire agencies, we can at least provide an initial immediate response to two emergency medical events or a proper response to one major fire event.
If the Mill Levy does not pass, we can only continue to provide a response to one emergency at a time and continue our reliance on the availability of volunteer staff to fill in the gaps.
Here is what that means:
If we receive an emergency medical call, we can staff an ambulance and quickly respond. Depending upon the severity of the illness/injury, call location, weather, and traffic, our on-duty crew may be away from the station for up to 3 hours. That includes responding to the scene, addressing the medical issue (traffic accident, entrapment, rescue, etc.), driving to the hospital in Kalispell, ensuring a successful patient transfer to hospital staff, cleaning and restocking the ambulance, and returning to the fire station.
While they are gone, no one is at the fire station for any other calls. If a second emergency were to occur, we would try to get volunteers to come to the station and handle the call. We would also ask neighboring volunteer fire departments to assist. Depending upon personnel availability, there will be a substantial delay in our response. If an out-of-district ambulance were needed, that would come from either Lakeside or Evergreen, again with a substantial delay.
If we add two additional firefighters per shift, it will allow us to staff two ambulances simultaneously or handle the initial response to two emergency calls. While we still may need the help of our volunteer staff and neighboring fire agencies, we can at least provide an initial immediate response to two emergency medical events or a proper response to one major fire event.
If the Mill Levy does not pass, we can only continue to provide a response to one emergency at a time and continue our reliance on the availability of volunteer staff to fill in the gaps.
The Flathead Valley’s taxes are already high. What other funding alternatives were assessed?
We understand. We are all taxpayers too. We have delayed as long as possible our requests for additional funding for critical needs.
Our current property tax collection produces around $1.22 million in funding annually. The current budget for pay and benefits for 12 authorized full-time staff (Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Office Manager, 3 Officers, and 6 firefighters) is $1.3M requiring us to leave the Assistant Chief position vacant to make ends meet. We collect another $500,000-600,000 through billing for medical services, billing for out-of-district services, donations, and grants. This means we run all annual operations and fund the purchase of necessary fuel, repairs, supplies, and equipment on approximately $600,000 per year. We are very frugal. Even with that amount, we still manage to put money aside each year in the Capital Improvement Fund for major equipment and vehicle replacements.
We are grateful for the efforts of the Friends of Bigfork Fire for their fundraising efforts and generous donations. We do receive additional donations of varying amounts from thoughtful community members which are used to supplement operational funds. We actively pursue any and all relevant state and federal grants. The grant process is very competitive with limited success. Over the past three years, we have been awarded two federal grants: $77,700 for an emergency backup generator for our main fire station and $20,000 for a wildland skid unit, both of which will accompany us to the new fire station.
Unfortunately, we do not receive any additional funding from the county, state, or federal government. EMS is not even considered an essential service in Montana and thus receives no state funding. To address this, the daughter of one of our firefighter/paramedics worked with the legislature to sponsor SJ13 – a study of Montana’s EMS system. We are hopeful this results in changes in the way Montana views emergency medical services and its providers in the future.
Our current property tax collection produces around $1.22 million in funding annually. The current budget for pay and benefits for 12 authorized full-time staff (Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Office Manager, 3 Officers, and 6 firefighters) is $1.3M requiring us to leave the Assistant Chief position vacant to make ends meet. We collect another $500,000-600,000 through billing for medical services, billing for out-of-district services, donations, and grants. This means we run all annual operations and fund the purchase of necessary fuel, repairs, supplies, and equipment on approximately $600,000 per year. We are very frugal. Even with that amount, we still manage to put money aside each year in the Capital Improvement Fund for major equipment and vehicle replacements.
We are grateful for the efforts of the Friends of Bigfork Fire for their fundraising efforts and generous donations. We do receive additional donations of varying amounts from thoughtful community members which are used to supplement operational funds. We actively pursue any and all relevant state and federal grants. The grant process is very competitive with limited success. Over the past three years, we have been awarded two federal grants: $77,700 for an emergency backup generator for our main fire station and $20,000 for a wildland skid unit, both of which will accompany us to the new fire station.
Unfortunately, we do not receive any additional funding from the county, state, or federal government. EMS is not even considered an essential service in Montana and thus receives no state funding. To address this, the daughter of one of our firefighter/paramedics worked with the legislature to sponsor SJ13 – a study of Montana’s EMS system. We are hopeful this results in changes in the way Montana views emergency medical services and its providers in the future.
Our Community. Our Calling. Our Commitment.
The fire station is more than just a building; it is a vital component of our community’s security. Providing adequate space, appropriate staffing, and proper equipment doesn’t just protect our firefighters, it protects us all!
Voting Information
This is a mail-in ballot election. Be sure your voter registration is up to date.
Visit https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election or contact them at 406-758-5535 with questions.
Important Dates
This is your choice for your community – present and future. We will always be here to serve you to the best of our ability. You can vote yes or no, but please vote.
Visit https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election or contact them at 406-758-5535 with questions.
Important Dates
- Ballots will be mailed around Friday, August 22, 2025.
- Ballot Deadline: Ballots must be delivered to the elections office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Postmarks do not count. Ballots received after 8 p.m. on September 9, 2025, will not be counted.
This is your choice for your community – present and future. We will always be here to serve you to the best of our ability. You can vote yes or no, but please vote.
Facility Tours and Open Houses
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You are invited to meet the Bigfork Fire Department team and tour the facilities. Please join us at a station open house on the following dates. During open houses and tours, attendees are welcome to park next door in the First Interstate Bank parking lot.
Other Events The Friends of the Bigfork Fire Department will host a community BBQ on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Eagle Bend Pavilion. http://www.bigforkfd.com/friends-of-bigfork-fire.html |
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