Bigfork fire on track for record annual call total

Drivers headed south on MT 35 into Bigfork have likely noticed a promising new sign on the right side of the road announcing the “future home of Bigfork Fire Department.” But Interim Chief Jeremy Patton thinks it won’t be until the distant future that the fire department will be able to relocate to the new space.

Patton estimated it could take five to ten more years before Bigfork Fire relocates to the new property.

“That’s something that’s going to be a work-in-progress,” he predicted.

Patton said the fire department has yet to secure the funding or draw up the plans for the new fire hall.

Last year, the opportunity arose for the fire department to purchase the 8.5-acre parcel of land just north of Bigfork where the new fire hall will eventually be built. But even though they were able to jump at the chance to secure the land for a good deal-- approximately $29,000 per acre--the Bigfork Rural Fire District Board apparently isn’t in a position yet where they can develop their new land.

But in the meantime, the need for Bigfork Fire’s services is only growing.

Patton said the fire department is on track to set a record for the number of calls placed this year.

“We’re ahead of last year overall,” Patton reported. “I’ll be surprised if we don’t set a record this year.”

As of mid-December, Bigfork Fire had received 914 calls for the year. In 2019, the fire department set a record of 928 calls. Patton estimated the current trends will likely eclipse the 2019 total by the end of the year.

The growing population of the valley as a whole seems to be contributing to the rising calls numbers, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a surge of new residents making a mass exodus from urban areas.

This year, too, Patton observed, people in the Bigfork area seem to be staying around town during the shoulder season rather than traveling elsewhere. That trend appears to be driving up call numbers all year long.

And, of course, the ongoing public health crisis has put added pressure on first responders like the fire department. Patton pointed out about 80 to 85% of Bigfork Fire’s calls each year are medical calls, rather than fires.

Bigfork Fire has started to shoulder an additional burden this year as more people are staying at home, in some cases worried about the risks of potentially contracting the coronavirus at a hospital or doctor’s office.

During the early days of the pandemic last spring, Patton said call numbers appeared to taper off, but by the summertime they had picked back up again. Call numbers normally slow down in the winter, but Patton said they’ve stayed steady so far this season.

Calls in the wintertime present added challenges for Bigfork firefighters, because access can be an issue at many residences. Around Bigfork, many homeowners live in rural areas with narrow, steep, unpaved driveways that can be impassable for fire engines.

“One of our biggest hurdles in the wintertime is not being able to get to a home,” Patton explained.

Patton advised Bigforkers to keep their driveways cleared in case of emergencies.

Even though most people tend to clear a passage that’s just large enough for their own private vehicles, Patton suggested plowing a little extra space for a fire engine or ambulance to access the property. He said it’s a consideration most people never think about until it’s too late.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.