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Bull Lake Rural Fire District, PO Box 1032, Troy, MT (2026)

03/20/2026

Steel er****on work is well underway at the site of the new Bull Lake Rural Fire District station on Highway 56. Crews from Bonners Ferry Builders, assisted by firefighters, have been working for the past two weeks, undaunted by rain and snow. Upon completion of the steel work, the structure will be dried in, doors and windows installed, and work will continue on the interior. When the building is completed, it will be the largest structure in the Bull Lake Rural Fire District, capable of meeting the emergency services needs of residents and visitors for many years. The financial and material contributions of District residents and friends are greatly appreciated and continue to be needed.
(Photographs by Luke Miller)

10/14/2025

Last week, installation of PEX piping was completed for the propane fired hydronic heating system that will be used by the new fire station. The piping installation followed several weeks of preparation of the subsurface that will underlie the floor slab, including raising of the grade with large quantities of gravel, installation of rough plumbing for the kitchen and restroom facilities, insulation placement and connection of floor drains for the engine bays. Nearly all of the work involved in this stage of the construction process was performed by volunteer firefighters of the Bull Lake Rural Fire District. The cost of the PEX piping and its installation by a specialized contractor was covered by a local resident of the district, whose generosity and support of the fire station project are greatly appreciated. The contractor was assisted in the installation process by volunteer labor from Bull Lake firefighters.

The next major step in the construction process will involve pouring of the floor slab. The slab will be four inches in depth, and will require a considerable amount of concrete. Funds to continue the building project are greatly needed, and represent long-term investments in our community and its future. Bull Lake Rural Fire District, its trustees and its volunteer firefighters appreciate the support of our residents as we work toward the objective of constructing a fire station that will serve everyone's future needs.

Photographs by Luke Miller.

08/26/2025

Work continues to progress at the site of the new Bull Lake Rural Fire District Station on State Highway 56 near Angel Island Road. All concrete footers required by the building are now installed, and preparations are underway for rough-in plumbing prior to pouring of the floor slab. The attached photographs depict the foundation walls and footers, including those which bisect the structure.

The new fire station is considered a public safety building, and under Montana regulations it must therefore comply with building codes and requirements that are considerably stricter than those applicable to ordinary commercial structures. Additional building code compliance translates into higher construction costs, and donations toward the fire district building fund are urgently needed. Many hours of construction labor have been donated by district volunteer firefighters which has assisted in reducing costs, but community involvement is needed and greatly appreciated.

In the past two weeks, Bull Lake Rural Fire District has responded to three wildland fire reports, a vehicle fire and several medical assistance requests. We are an all-risk fire department that responds to any emergency incident occurring within the district. We are also ready and able to assist neighboring fire departments in the event of a call for mutual aid. We would welcome the support of the community as we erect a building that represents the future of emergency services for the Bull Lake Rural Fire District.

05/24/2025

Earlier this month, volunteer firefighters from Bull Lake Rural Fire District, along with colleagues from several neighboring jurisdictions, participated in a training session conducted by a Kalispell-based Helitack crew from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

The forestry division of Montana DNRC maintains an air operations section that includes both fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft, which are critical resources whenever wildland fires occur. Frequently, wildland firefighters on the ground are required to work closely with DRNC aviation assets, and prior training is necessary to ensure safety, proper communications, and an understand of both the capabilities and limitations of firefighting aircraft.

The training attended by Bull Lake Fire personnel included instruction provided by members of the Kalispell Helitack crew, which operates a Bell UH-1 helicopter typically equipped with a 325 gallon bucket suspended on a short cable attached to the underside of the aircraft. Bull Lake firefighters received information concerning aerial operations and aircraft safety, the capabilities of the Bell UH-1 on a wildland fire scene, the types of water drops typically used in fire incidents, and proper communications for requesting and directing a water drop. The helicopter on scene at the training session demonstrated its capabilities, and firefighters were provided with the opportunity to direct the aircraft in making water drops onto specific targets.

Bull Lake Fire District appreciates its DNRC wildland firefighter partners, and is grateful for the training opportunities provided by the forestry division. Special thanks to the Kalispell-based Helitack unit that provided informative and valuable training.

05/12/2025

On May 9 and 10, 2025, Bull Lake Rural Fire District, in cooperation with the Northwest Fire and Rescue Training Alliance, hosted a multi-agency wildland fire training event. Known as I-Zone, the event occurs every other year and provides participants with the opportunity to experience, under actual fire conditions, situations and circumstances that are frequently encountered by wildland firefighters.

The 2025 I-Zone event was attended by approximately 35 firefighters from Bull Lake, Upper Yaak, West Kootenai, McCormick, Trego-Fortine-Stryker, and Marion Fire Departments. Participants were required to respond to different fire scenarios and evaluate, develop and implement tactics for containment and suppression, and reduce each fire to a condition where it could be placed in patrol status for the remainder of I-Zone. Several fire scenarios involved adjacent hazards such as buildings and vehicles, typical of the type of fire incidents found in the wildland-urban interface, and most included spot fires and other developments that required on-site incident commanders to evaluate the need for additional resources. Participating firefighters gained valuable experience and developed skills in fire evaluation, containment/suppression strategies, communications during emergency situations, coordinating activities with personnel from other agencies, and working under dynamic and potentially stressful live fire conditions. Training of the type provided by I-Zone enables each firefighter to be better prepared to answer the call when a wildland fire emergency occurs.

Bull Lake Rural Fire District appreciates the participation of each agency, coach and firefighter that attended this year's I-Zone event. Special thanks to Majestic View Ministries for providing the event location and to Northridge Fire Equipment of Missoula for its support.

03/19/2025

On March 18, 2025 twenty-nine emergency responders and eight apparatus from Noxon, Heron and Bull Lake Rural Fire Districts assembled at Noxon Fire to participate in a joint training session, typical of what would occur under actual conditions when inter-agency mutual aid was involved. The training scenario involved a vehicle rollover down a steep embankment, two trapped occupants and numerous trees, conditions that are not uncommon on Montana roads during winter driving conditions. Firefighters and EMS personnel from the different agencies worked together to co-ordinate the emergency response, stabilize the vehicle, perform a complex extraction of the occupants under difficult terrain conditions, and prepare a helicopter landing zone. The training session was followed by a complete debriefing, during which time the participants discussed the response, interagency coordination and cooperation, extrication techniques, patient removal and care, and command and communications aspects.

Bull Lake Rural Fire District greatly appreciated the opportunity to participate in the training session, which provided valuable knowledge and experience. We extend our thanks and gratitude to Noxon Fire for planning and hosting the training, and to all firefighters and EMS personnel in attendance who worked side by side to develop vital skills with which to better serve our districts.

02/23/2025

On February 21 volunteer firefighters from Bull Lake Fire District filled and stacked approximately 600 sandbags in preparation for potential flooding from this weekend's weather event. If any residents of the district experience high water that may lead to flooding of property, please contact the dispatch center for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at (406) 293-4112
to request assistance from Bull Lake Fire. We are an all risk emergency response agency that is prepared to assist residents and district visitors at all times.

11/12/2024

The trustees and firefighters of Bull Lake Rural Fire District wish to provide the community with an update on progress toward construction of the new fire station. At the outset, the trustees and firefighters continue to extend their thanks and gratitude to the anonymous donor who provided funds for a matching grant and to those residents and friends of the district who have contributed financially toward the new building.

Components of the new steel building were delivered to the construction site earlier this fall. The building arrived over several days on five semi-trailers, and was unloaded, and the material stacked, by Bull Lake firefighters. The unloading process was neither simple nor easy, as each component part needed to be unloaded, moved to a specific location at the building site, and stacked in a manner approved by the manufacturer. Unloading of the building was further complicated by the requirement of the future er****on crew that certain components needed to be accessed before others, consequently all materials had to be available in a prescribed order. Over the course of several days, all trucks were safely unloaded; a later truck carrying insulation material was unloaded approximately two weeks ago, with its load placed in an enclosed building to provide shelter from the elements. The unloading work of the firefighters saved the district several thousand dollars, which otherwise would have been expended on a rigging contractor.

No one wants the new building to be completed more than the trustees and firefighters of Bull Lake, who for the past 17 years have been using facilities loaned at no cost through the generosity of Majestic View Ministries. While it was initially planned to start construction early this fall and continue indoor work after the building was under roof, the district encountered unavoidable delays caused by the need to re-design and re-engineer the foundation. The steel building required a completely different, and stronger, foundation than was planned for the original project, with more and different footer locations, a stronger and differently shaped slab, and different plumbing locations. In addition, since the new fire station is classified as a public safety building under Montana law, it must meet special code requirements that are intended to help it withstand natural disasters. By the time the architect and engineers completed their design work and the state approved the plans and issued a new building permit, it was too late in the year to pour the large quantity of concrete that is required by the foundation and floor slab. Behind-the-scenes work continued during the design and permit waiting period, with contractors interviewed and bids obtained. As it currently stands, the project is ready to commence in the spring of 2025 as soon as weather permits.

Now the part on finances. Through the deeply appreciated generosity of the anonymous donor and those who contributed, Bull Lake Fire District has the opportunity to erect a strong, well-designed and sufficiently sized building that will serve its residents for years. Although the new building represents a real and significant improvement over the originally-intended structure, it comes at a cost—not only the components of the building itself, but also the concrete, er****on costs, extra gravel, floor drains, overhead doors and other ancillary components necessary to convert stacks of steel components into a finished and usable structure. While the steel components have been purchased and delivered, the district additionally needs approximately $240,000 to ensure that construction can begin in the spring. Most of this amount is attributed to the cost of concrete for the foundation and the er****on crew for the building.

The operation of Bull Lake Fire District is largely funded by tax revenue from residents. These funds are used to keep the doors of the fire station open, and are expended for fuel, maintenance costs, electricity, insurance, supplies, equipment and training. The district and its personnel have endeavored to keep operational costs as low as possible by using donated equipment, conserving resources, and using, where possible, government surplus channels and grants for acquisition of the myriad of items necessary to keep a fire department in operation 24/7. Tax revenues destined for operational costs are kept separate from funds acquired for construction of the new building, and a dedicated building fund was established for that purpose.

No tax revenue has been expended toward the new building other than ancillary and administrative costs associated with insurance. Rather, all building fund money was acquired either through donations or from the work of firefighters fulfilling contract assignments, many of them multi-week and in jurisdictions that are far from home, such as Texas or California. Over the past few years, funds from contract assignments have been used to fund electrical work, a producing water well, a septic system and gravel. In addition, relationships between Bull Lake firefighters and third party individuals resulted in donation of the land upon which the building will be erected and a professional survey of the property. The total value of this activity is approximately $157,000, and does not include the hundreds of volunteer hours of firefighters working to prepare the site for construction. Fire contract work by Bull Lake personnel has also, over the past five years, enabled the district to acquire and place in operation two additional wildland engines and a state of the art tactical tender. Photographs of these vehicles are included in this post.

The trustees and firefighters of Bull Lake Rural Fire District are a dedicated group. Firefighting is not an easy task, and there is hard physical work and no glamour involved with digging fire line through a rocky and root-infested forest, hauling heavy hoses up steep hills, overhauling a filthy, hazardous and stinking structure fire or responding to emergency calls in the middle of the night, often in bad weather. We do these things because emergency services are critically needed, and each firefighter has the desire to help residents of the district at the time they need it most. Emergency services might seem to be an abstract concept until it is yourself, your family, or your home or business that needs us. In this uncertain world, one thing is certain—as long as Bull Lake Rural Fire District exists, we will respond—whenever and wherever we are needed. Please consider a financial donation to the new fire station to help us ensure that this commitment remains viable for the future.

Finally, the trustees and firefighters invite anyone to attend a trustees meeting, which are held the second Monday of each month at 11:00 am at Battalion 2 of Bull Lake Rural Fire District, located on Doonan View Drive. The meetings are open to the public, and the trustees are ready, able and more than willing to answer any questions and provide any requested information concerning district finances, funding needs for the new building or any other topic.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

10/11/2024

Earlier this week, the first line structure engines of Bull Lake Rural Fire District underwent pump testing, which is a periodic evaluation of the integrity and performance of fire engine pumps and controls. Pump testing is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, a nationally-recognized standards organization, and it was conducted at Bull Lake Fire by Northwest Fire Services. Testing of wildland engines is scheduled for next year prior to the start of the annual fire season. Pump testing is one of many protocols and procedures adhered to by Bull Lake Fire in order to maintain readiness to respond to fires and other emergency calls for service. Pictures of the testing procedure conducted on Engine 1272 are attached to this post.

On October 9, Bull Lake Fire personnel responded to a call for mutual aid from Noxon Rural Fire District, and provided assistance with traffic control, extrication and establishing an emergency landing zone in connection with a logging truck accident that occurred on State Route 56 in Sanders County. The incident was an example of neighboring fire departments working together to enhance public safety, which is the mission of all first responders. Bull Lake Fire was pleased to be able to assist Noxon.

09/10/2024

The trustees and volunteers of Bull Lake Rural Fire District would like to update the community on the progress that has been made toward construction of the new fire station:

1. First, a huge thank you to those who have contributed toward the $200,000 matching grant that was underwritten by an anonymous resident of the district. While much progress has been made, contributions are still needed. The district has been given a tremendous opportunity to construct a fire station that will serve the community, residents and visitors for many years, and the generosity of all who have contributed is appreciated.

2. The steel components of the building are being manufactured and are scheduled for delivery at the new station site on State Route 56 during the week of September 16, 2024. Er****on of the steel components is anticipated to occur in October or November.

3. Much work by Bull Lake Fire personnel has been ongoing to coordinate and obtain engineering approval of the new foundation design that is required by the building. Since fire stations are classified by Montana law as commercial, public service buildings, there are specific code requirements that must be met and documented on engineering drawings. The foundation design is nearly complete and will soon be submitted to state building officials for approval.

4.The intention of the district is that the building will be erected and under roof by the time that winter arrives. Work on the interior will continue throughout the winter months.

5. Electrical and water lines for the building have been installed. The well for the building, which was drilled earlier this year, has produced a more than adequate volume of good quality water. The new station will include a 10,000 gallon water storage tank which will be used to refill fire engine internal tanks and water tenders. All electrical controls for the well and its pumping system are in place and operational.

5. The engine bays on the new steel building are larger than those planned for the original structure, providing more space for the housing of fire apparatus.

Again, the volunteers and trustees of Bull Lake Fire District sincerely appreciate the support of the community in this highly worthwhile task.

08/03/2024

Interagency fire managers have implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions across Northwest Montana, including Lincoln County and the Kootenai and Flathead National Forests. According to publications of the U.S. Forest Service, Stage 1 fire restrictions involve the following locations and prohibited activities:

Flathead National Forest, including Hungry Horse-Glacier View, Swan Lake, Spotted Bear, and Tally Lake Ranger Districts to include the Great Bear Wilderness, Mission Mountains Wilderness, and the Flathead National Forest portion of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. *NO recreation site campfire exemptions

Kootenai National Forest, including Rexford, Fortine, Three Rivers, Libby, and Cabinet Ranger Districts. *NO recreation site campfire exemptions

Glacier National Park

US Fish & Wildlife Service, including Lost Trail and Swan River National Wildlife Refuge.

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, including Kalispell, Libby, and Stillwater Units. State land & private classified forested lands.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Region 1 within Flathead County and Lincoln County.

County and Private jurisdictions under Stage I restrictions include:

Flathead County – Stage I fire restrictions.
Lincoln County – Stage I fire restrictions.
Green Diamond – prohibits campfires on their lands.
Flathead Ridge Ranch – prohibits campfires on their lands.
Southern Pine Plantation of Montana – Industrial Timberlands in Lincoln, Sanders, and Flathead Counties prohibits campfires.
Stimson Private Timber Company – prohibits campfires on their lands.
Stoltze Timber Company – prohibits campfires on their lands.

Stage I Fire Restrictions Prohibited Acts

The Following Acts Are Prohibited Until Further Notice:

Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a maintained and working spark arresting device properly installed. For chainsaw use, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum 8-ounce capacity and rating of 2A must be kept with the operator and a round point shovel at least 35 inches long must be kept readily available for use.

Blasting, welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum 8-ounce capacity and rating of 2A must be kept with the operator.

Using an explosive including but not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary ammunition.

Stage I Exemptions:

Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
Persons using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off. Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device.
Persons using a fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least 5 feet in length and a mesh screen spark arrestor with a screen opening of a ¼ inch or less used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device.
Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

Violations:
You could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisoned up to 6 months for violating restrictions and closures.

You can be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if you start a fire.

Please be aware that Sanders County has implemented Stage II fire restrictions.

Despite a small amount of recent rainfall, the fire danger level remains Very High. Bull Lake Rural Fire District reminds everyone to be particularly diligent in adhering to current fire restrictions and safe practices. If smoke is spotted, please call 911 immediately; the quicker that firefighters can respond to a wildland fire, the better the chance of early containment and control.

07/09/2024

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Kootenai/Cabinet and Lower Clark Fork regions from July 9 through July 12, with high temperatures predicted to reach over 100 degrees. The trustees and first responders of Bull Lake Fire would like to remind residents to be watchful for the signs and symptoms of heat related illness, which can affect everyone, regardless of age or underlying state of health. However, infants and children, persons over 65 years and individuals with medical issues, particularly those affecting the heart and lungs, are at increased risk, particularly for heat stroke and heat exhaustion, which are typically the more serious forms of heat related illnesses.
During hot weather, it is extremely important to remain hydrated. According to the American Red Cross, although individual needs can vary significantly, the average person needs about ¾ of a gallon of water daily. Obviously, high temperatures, low humidity and physical exertion can significantly affect water intake needs. A rough method of determining whether water intake is sufficient is to monitor urine color—dark urine is often a sign of dehydration.
Water intake is the best way to remain hydrated, although electrolyte/sports drinks can use useful, provided that they contain, if at all, minimal amounts of sugar and/or caffeine. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, colas and iced tea are of little value in maintaining hydration, as caffeine acts as a diuretic and increases the rate at which the body excretes water. Alcoholic drinks and sugary soft drinks should be avoided as well.
Heat stroke, which can be difficult to distinguish from other forms of heat related illness, can be a life-threatening medical emergency and can rapidly become severe. If there is any doubt as to the type of heat related illness that is affecting a person or its severity, call 911 immediately. First responders would much rather deal with a patient who is not a medical emergency than one who is in serious condition on account of delays in summoning medical assistance.
For more information, please refer to the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www. cdc.gov/extreme-heat/signs-symptoms/index.html. The site contains valuable information concerning the signs, symptoms and first aid treatment for heat related illnesses.

Bull Lake Rural Fire District

03/20/2026

10/14/2025

08/26/2025

05/24/2025

05/12/2025

03/19/2025

02/23/2025

11/12/2024

10/11/2024

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