BFD upgrades interior

New paint and drywall pave the way to a pair of sleeping quarters and an upgrade at the Bigfork Fire Department.

Flooring, carpeting, heating, air conditioning and an updated kitchen are also in the repair plans. Fire chief Wayne Loeffler said the nearly 30-year-old building was due for an upgrade, but a comfortable place to sleep was the first priority on the list.

“That way people don’t have to sleep in a recliner or on a couch,” Loeffler said.

Someone is on call and stays at the station overnight almost seven nights a week. Now that the sleeping quarters are being built, volunteers and staffers won’t be quite so uncomfortable when they stay at the station.

They started remodeling in mid-April and hope to be finished by May 4. Most of the work is being done by the fire department staff. The big projects, like putting up drywall and installing new air conditioning, are being farmed out to professionals.

Both emergency and fire service responders come out of the Bigfork Fire Department. Loeffler has four paid paramedics and 25 volunteers who operate out of the building.

Training coordinator Tracy Norred said the department usually slows down in the winter, but this winter has been different.

“We haven’t slowed down,” Norred said. “We’re averaging two calls a day, which is a lot for us in a small community.”

This winter they averaged 50 calls a month. About 90 percent of those calls were for emergency medical services.  

In the summertime, the fire departments average will bump up to around 70 calls a month. Three-fourths of those calls will most likely be for EMS.

Norred is excited about the upgrades, but not just because of the comfort it will bring to those who stay overnight.

She is hoping it will make the fire station more appealing to volunteers.

“We have a huge need for volunteers here,” Norred said. “We’re hoping it (the upgrades) will draw people.”