Bigfork Fire

06/01/2026

Bigfork Fire is Hiring Part-time Firefighter/Paramedics

See our Job Posting and Application at:

https://bigforkfire.com/employment-information/

05/29/2026

Bigfork Fire is Looking to Hire an Office Administrator

We have an opening for a full-time Office Administrator to help with billing, records management, payroll support, administrative coordination, and general office operations. In addition, as a small department, all personnel are expected to assist with first responder duties, when needed, commensurate with their training and experience. Experience working in a public safety agency preferred but not required.

If you are highly motivated and eager to learn, dedicated to serving the public, and willing to complete basic fire fighting and emergency medical training within one year from date of hire, we may be the perfect fit.

Salary range is $24-28/hour depending upon qualifications.

APPLICATIONS DUE BY FRIDAY, JUNE 12th, AT 3PM

See our job posting and application at: https://bigforkfire.com/employment-information/

05/28/2026

Bigfork Fire Acquires Thermal Imaging Drone to Support Fire and Rescue Operations

Thanks to another generous donation from the Friends of Bigfork Fire Department, we have purchased a new drone with night vision and thermal imaging capabilities to support firefighting and rescue operations.

This new tool will allows us to:

See though smoke, fog, and low clouds to quickly locate fires and hotspots. This is especially important during lightning strikes so we can quickly investigate and pinpoint small fires before they expand.

Locate, evaluate, and map the boundaries for spreading wildland fires to determine fire growth, direction, speed; and plan for evacuations. We can also quickly locate firefighting teams on the ground and direct them to ensure their safety.

Evaluate roof and structural integrity on residential and commercial fires and help identify where trapped persons may be located. We can also monitor the fire's progression for tactical planning purposes.

After a fire is substantially extinguished, we can quickly locate hotspots needing additional attention.

In HazMat or other situations with limited access, allow us to safely evaluate the situation to provide proper planning and response without risking personnel. We can also quickly locate the source of spills on water or in rugged terrain, minimizing the level of contamination.

During water, steep terrain, or heavily wooded medical calls, especially at night, we can rapidly locate injured individuals thereby providing more immediate medical care.

We thank the Friends of Bigfork Fire Department and all the community members who donate to and support their efforts to help us.

05/10/2026

Hope you enjoyed a beautiful Mother’s Day! Bigfork Fire spent the weekend providing medical support to all the fantastic runners and spectators at the Spartan Race Bigfork.

Congratulations to all the participants.

04/21/2026

The ballots are out for the mail-in election to fill vacancies on the Bigfork Rural Fire District Board of Trustees.

Three candidates are running for two open positions. Candidate statements can be found on the Bigfork Fire web page at www.bigforkfire.com. See the links at the bottom of our main page.

Bigfork Fire does not endorse any candidate and only provides a space for candidate-supplied statements in the public interest.

Ballots are due by May 5th. Please vote!

02/18/2026

Best wishes to Teressa and her daughter for their continued recovery from this horrific event.

On December 1, 2024, tragedy struck near Bigfork when a drunk driver crossed the center line and caused a head-on crash that severely injured Teressa Brandt, claiming the life of her fiancé Wyatt and their unborn child. Teressa, and her young daughter survived the crash but suffered severe injuries.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Jessica Kehl while her husband, Paramedic Sean Kehl with the Bigfork Fire Department, provided emergency care on scene.
In the 439 days since that night, Teressa has faced an incredible road to recovery: spending months in hospitals, intensive care units, and rehabilitation centers across Montana and Washington. She has undergone multiple surgeries, fought through complications, and shown unwavering strength and determination at every turn.
Now, after a long and courageous journey, Teressa has finally returned home to the same small town where both Trooper Jessica Kehl and her husband, Firefighter/Medic Sean Kehl, live and serve. Today, Trooper Kehl and her husband joined the Marion Fire Department in escorting Teressa home as she took this powerful next step in her recovery.
The Montana Highway Patrol stands with Teressa and her family, and with all victims of impaired driving. Her story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the strength of community.
Welcome home, Teressa. 💙

01/11/2026

The numbers are in, and 2025 was our busiest year yet!

Bigfork Fire responded to 1,332 calls last year, an average of almost 4 calls per day. Of the total, 1,070 calls, or 80%, were for medical emergencies - heart attacks, strokes, illnesses, and traumatic injuries including motor vehicle accidents. The other 20% included fires and other related emergencies. These call statistics do not include community events such as school safety training, parades, downtown celebrations, tours, and community education classes.

While 4 calls a day may not seem like much, consider this:

An average call can take from 2-4 hours depending upon complexity, distance, weather, and hospital transport time.

For every call, add another 1-2 hours to complete reports, clean and restock equipment, wash gear, and refuel for the next emergency.

We must train for a variety of emergencies to remain proficient every day. Training includes structure fires, wildland fires,, hazardous materials, medical scenarios, communications, motor vehicle extrication, rope rescue, swift water rescue, ice rescue, ladder operations, water tender operations, and firefighter safety.

In between, we work on our physical and mental fitness and squeeze in meals and some sleep time.

So our 4 on-duty firefighters are never at a loss for something to do. They work hard everyday for you - competently serving our community with dedication and compassion.

We are proud to serve the growing needs of Bigfork and the surrounding area!

12/31/2025

Bigfork Fire is on scene helping other Flathead Fire agencies with this large blaze.

Multiple fire crews are on the scene of a large blaze in the Helena Flats area northeast of Kalispell.The fire broke out Tuesday night at what appears to be a b

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Have a Safe New Year!

12/08/2025

Sometimes you just need a little help. The Bigfork Fire Department is always ready to lend a helping hand - to people and animals alike. This little guy got stuck in a fence gate.