Bigfork Fire seeks levy to maintain service

The Bigfork Fire Department is asking voters to approve a new mill levy in an effort to maintain adequate fire protection and emergency medical service in the community.

Representatives from the fire departments told the Daily Inter Lake that if the levy fails, it could impact the fire department’s ability to protect the community.

“If the funding level stays the same we are going to start cutting services, and we don’t want that,” Bigfork Fire Department Chief Mark Thiry said.

“We wan to provide the highest level of care we can, but we need the money to do that,” he added.

The 15-mill levy increase the department is seeking would generate an extra $350,000 annually for the fire department.

If the levy is passed, homeowners would see an increase of $20.25 for every $100,000 assessed market value of their home. That translates to about $40 per year for a home worth $200,000.

The fire department says an increase in emergency calls is straining their ability to respond to emergencies. Thiry said the department responded to a record 922 calls for service in 2017.

The chief said the number of calls his department responded to was “right behind” the number of calls incorporated cities in the Flathead Valley respond to. There are 11 ambulance services in the county, and Bigfork is ranked fourth in call volume, according to a report from the Bigfork Fire District.

“We have city problems and we are still trying to operate on a volunteer status,” Thiry said.

In 2010, the volunteer fire department merged with Bigfork QRU to offer around-the-clock paramedic-level emergency medical services.

In 2015, due to a shortage of EMS staff, the district decided to start paying EMS staff to work shifts at the station. However, this reportedly created tension between paid staff and volunteers, resulting in a “slow exodus” of the volunteer ranks.

According to the department, without the requested funding, the department would be forced to reduce their services to basic-EMT. This could result in a 30-minute response from a paramedic from another ambulance service, or a costly helicopter response, Thiry said. A failed levy would also force the department to eliminate their 24/7 staffing and/or terminate their ambulance service altogether, according to the district’s report.

If the levy is passed, the current level of emergency services would be sustained or enhanced, the fire chief said, allowing the department to handle the increasing call volume.

“We are asking the community to help us help them,” the Thiry said. The Bigfork mail levy ballot will take place on May 8.