Columbia Falls Fire Department

05/30/2026

We had the pleasure of many little ones touring our Station 41 this week. They all went home and reminded their parents to check their smoke detector batteries and decide on an agreed-upon meeting place in case of an emergency. Have you done these things in your home?

05/29/2026

CFFD is preparing for wildland season! We spent the last month of training practicing wildland pump ops, water shuttles, and progressive hose lays.

Let's make our cousin Smokey Bear proud in the coming months by checking local restrictions before burning, monitoring campfires at all times, and reporting any smoke you come across in the woods.

We recommend clearing dry vegetation within 30-100ft of your home, cleaning gutters out, and stacking firewood away from structures to keep your home defensible in the case of a nearby wildland fire. Please call or stop by our station 41 if you have any questions about home preparedness.

05/23/2026

05/22/2026

It's EMS Week -- Shout out to our medical responders!
Columbia Falls Fire Department's QRU (Quick Response Unit) responds to medical incidents when Three Rivers EMS is tied up on another call or when additional hands are needed for patient care. CFFD QRU currently has 19 EMTs on hand with 1 more in EMT class and a few others with plans to take an EMT class in the near future. Our EMTs go the extra mile maintaining their licenses and attending additional trainings each month.

05/18/2026

CFFD members Shawn Hogan and Tanner Kienas traveled to Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center in Helena to earn their ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) certifications

05/14/2026

9 candidates from Big Mountain Fire, GPIA Fire, and Columbia Falls Fire successfully completed the 2026 Firefighter I Academy

05/05/2026

Firefighter I academy students are over halfway through the tactics required to earn their certification. This week, we continue the grind through the roof ops and hazmat tactics.

05/05/2026

Two new members sworn in at city council last night - both have significance.

1) Devon Hagen started work with us last week as the fourth to our paid daytime crew

2) Sam Hovde is our 35th member, locking in a full CFFD roster

04/30/2026

Academy Tactic #2: EIS (Enter, Isolate, Search)

04/29/2026

The 2026 Firefighter I academy is in full swing! Nine academy students are down at our rural fire hall, Station 42, working their way through all of the required tactics.

First up this week: transitional fire attack.