Bigfork fire chief resigns

Bigfork Fire Department Chief Mark Thiry resigned, effective Nov. 13, according to minutes of a special meeting of the Bigfork Fire District. Thiry was employed by the department for four-and-a-half years. No reason for his departure was listed in the minutes or otherwise provided. Under Thiry’s leadership, the department was successful in passing a $350,000 annual levy in 2018 that has allowed for increased staffing and equipment upgrades and last spring, Bigfork Fire purchased 8.5 acre parcel of land to house a new firehall.

“We appreciate Chief Thiry’s service over the past years and wish him the best in his future endeavours. We thought pretty highly of the chief,” trustee Andrew Sliter said. “Honestly, why he chose to submit his resignation I’m not entirely sure.”

Sliter noted that deputy chief Jeremy Patton has assumed the role of interim chief until the department makes a permanent hiring decision. During the Nov. 13 special meeting, the trustees also voted to establish a hiring committee.

Patton has been with Bigfork Fire for more than seven years and told the Eagle that he is happy to take on the role in the meantime.

“I’ve taken over filing my role and the chiefs role at this time and as I need help I’m just pulling in certain people,” Patton said.

The entire year has been marked by change for Bigfork Fire. In the early spring, the pandemic ushered in a wave of uncertainty in the local community which translated into a significant drop in medical call volume for the department.

“Initially in the beginning … it seemed like everybody was scared to go to the hospital,” he explained, noting that medical emergencies make up as much as 85% of their calls on average.

However, things rebounded in the summer as tourists flooded into the area and now Bigfork Fire is on track to break their record for the most calls received in a year by the end of this month.

“If our call volume continues to increase, we will have to increase staffing,” Patton said. “Right now we really dont have the budget.”

But changes in staffing needs is an issue that will be tackled down the line, Patton noted. For the time being, Bigfork Fire will continue providing 24/7 crews, with at least one paramedic on duty at all times. The department has relied on assistance from Lakeside Quick Response Unit and, less frequently, Evergreen Fire Rescue, when multiple calls occur simultaneously.