BIGFORK, Mont. (May 27, 2025) — Like many emergency service agencies across Montana,
the Bigfork Fire Department is experiencing increased calls for service while grappling with
aging buildings, outdated equipment and limited staff.
The Bigfork Fire District Board of Trustees approved a bond initiative and mill levy to be
presented to voters in a September 9, 2025, special election. These measures are designed to
address urgent infrastructure and staffing deficiencies to ensure a comprehensive response to
community emergency needs.
“Our emergency responders are doing life-saving work with limited resources,” Fire Chief
Jeremy Patton said. “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.
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 undersized 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.
• 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 just three full time firefighters per shift, which is insufficient given the
rising call volume. Volunteers provide a significant benefit but are limited in availability,
training, and response time.
Additionally, few staff can afford to live within district boundaries, limiting off-duty emergency
availability. Firefighter pay in Bigfork is 30–50% lower than that of nearby departments,
affecting recruitment and retention.
The department also provides advanced Emergency Medical Services (EMS), 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:
• Hiring additional firefighters, increasing the on-duty staff from 3 to up to 5 per shift.
• Improving firefighter pay to attract and retain skilled personnel.
• Purchasing additional safety gear and equipment for new and current firefighters.
• Providing enhanced training, including specialized certifications.
• Ensuring continuing 24/7 Advanced Life Support (Paramedic) EMS availability.
Total project and funding costs are still being calculated.
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 pio@bigforkfire.com.
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The Bigfork Fire Department proudly serves Bigfork, MT and the surrounding communities by
providing firefighting, rescue, and advanced Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with fulltime
professional firefighters supplemented by trained volunteers.