Bull Lake district moves ahead with new fire hall

LIBBY — Bull Lake Rural Fire District is planning a new fire station just a stone’s throw across the highway from the district’s old fire station.

Fire Chief Clyde Miller briefed board members, residents and Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe Wednesday from Station No. 1 on Angel Island Road.

“We’re looking toward the future,” Miller said as he listed a litany of achievements and equipment purchases since becoming a fire district in 1989.

The underlying issue is a lawsuit filed by the Bull Lake district against Lincoln County, Troy dispatch, Troy and Libby ambulance services and Bowe, who is the county’s top public safety officer. It challenges the county’s authority over the fire district’s operations.

“Our beef is not with [Bowe]. It’s with Troy dispatch,” Fire District Treasurer Gerald Wallace said.

Miller noted the fire district has a mandate to serve the people in its jurisdiction and said the district will continue to dispatch, which is the key bone of contention among county officials.

Bowe said he’s disappointed with that decision, but remained optimistic that dialogue can be achieved to end the impasse.

“It means we’ll have to get the lawyers together, but it’s possible. I’m disappointed they won’t take the decision that was rendered. It seems they’re going to keep at it until they get the answer they want,” Bowe said.

Miller said the fire board is committed to taking the issue to the Montana Supreme Court.

“We don’t have any issues with any of these [other] agencies. This is about serving those people who pay taxes,” Miller said.

The new fire station, which could be about 8,000 square feet, will be built on two of the 28 acres assigned for the new building. A groundbreaking date has not been set.

The current station is much smaller and because of a high water table is not suitable for plumbing, at least not without much expense.

Board members estimated the new station will cost about $350,000.

The Bull Lake Fire Department includes 18 volunteer firefighters and serves a rural area near Troy and southwest of Libby.

 Alan Lewis Gerstenecker is editor of the Western News in Libby.