Auction to support new training facility

The Creston Fire Department has designs on a new training facility.

The fire department is hosting its 45th annual auction on Saturday followed by a recreational vehicle, marine, auto and equipment sale on Sunday.

The money raised from the auction will be used to relocate a three-room, 28-foot-by-119-foot modular building from Bigfork School District to Creston’s Lake Blaine Fire Station.

The Creston Fire Department currently doesn’t have classroom space, but that will not be the case when the department gets the modular building.

The relocation comes at a cost of $45,000, which includes setting up a concrete foundation, connecting utilities and putting a new roof on the building.

Also included is the relocation of a two-story building at the Lake Blaine Fire Station that is used for interior fire attack and rescue training. The two-story building is basically a shell, Fire Chief Gary Mahugh said.

Getting the 3,332-square-foot modular building from Bigfork School District is an “excellent opportunity” to support the training of Creston’s 35 firefighters, Mahugh said.

Gates will open on Saturday’s auction at 8 a.m., with bidding beginning at 9 a.m.

The auction will feature building materials, household merchandise, sports equipment, tools, tack, specialty items and a large array of antiques.

Sunday’s sale begins with bidding at noon. Ten-dollar bid tickets go on sale beginning at 9 a.m.

Both the auction and sale are open consignments with merchandise from across the Northwest. Merchandise will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

Hot food will be available all three days.

For more information, call 250-7396 or go to www.crestonfire.org.

Creston is located 12 miles east of Kalispell on Montana 35.