Ulm Volunteer Fire Department

05/07/2026

Every one in Ulm please be on the lookout

04/18/2026

Thank you to everyone who was there to help us honor Chief Karsten today. It was a hard day for a lot of people but the support we were showed by our community and surrounding communities made it just a little easier.

Community members gathered to mourn and pay their respects to Ulm Fire Chief Karsten Hovland, who passed away on April 3 at 43 years old.

04/18/2026

PSA for anyone traveling in the area tomorrow, we are anticipating a large turn out for Chief Karsten’s Funeral so please be patient, be aware of vehicles and people, and drive safely. Thank you.

🚨 Community Traffic Advisory – Saturday, April 18 🚨

On Saturday morning, a large number of emergency vehicles, semi-trucks, farm equipment, and other apparatus will gather in honor of Chief Karsten Hovland.

Beginning around 8:00 AM, vehicles will stage along Central Avenue in front of Croxford Funeral Home, occupying the northbound lane.

Following the funeral service, the procession will travel:
➡️ West on Central Avenue
➡️ South on 9th Street
➡️ West on 10th Avenue South
➡️ Continuing toward Ulm for Chief Hovland’s final resting place

If you need to be in the area, please use caution:
• Watch for large vehicles and pedestrians
• Expect traffic delays and temporary congestion

If you encounter the procession:
• Yield to all vehicles in the procession
• Do not cut into or pass the procession (unless on the interstate)
• Wait until the final vehicle has passed before resuming normal travel

We appreciate the community’s patience and respect as we honor Chief Hovland’s service and legacy. 🇺🇸

04/15/2026

Funeral service and reception information for Karsten Hovland is as follows:

April 18th, 2026

Service - 10:00 am at Croxfords in Great Falls with a firetruck and semi procession to follow.
**Procession information is below.

Reception - 12:00pm at Ulm VFD fire station. Hamburgers, burger fixings and select sides are provided. Other sides and desserts are potluck; anyone is welcome to bring a dish if they wish.

Any and all are welcome to stop by and honor Karsten. He was a prominent part of our community, gone too soon.

**Procession:

Funeral Processional Details for Chief Karsten Hovland
Saturday, April 18, 2026

We will begin staging for the processional at 9:00 a.m. near Croxford’s Funeral Home. The procession will depart promptly from the front of Croxford’s, proceeding toward the Ulm Fire Department.

Participating departments and apparatus are asked to approach via 14th Street or 15th Street and stage in the Montana Federal Credit Union parking lot or near the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art. Once these areas reach capacity, additional units may stage along Central Avenue or in other available nearby parking areas.

The funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. I anticipated that the final call would take place prior to 11:00 a.m. on Channel 963. The designated tactical channel for the processional will be Red.

Following the service, once Chief Hovland has been loaded, the processional will proceed westbound on Central Avenue to 9th Street South, then continue along 10th Ave South to the Ulm Fire Station.

Units may break off upon exiting the interstate at Ulm if they do not plan to continue to the station. Ulm Fire Department apparatus will be staged near the hall, and any visiting units remaining are asked to park behind the station. Personnel will be on-site to assist with traffic flow and parking.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Cascade VFD, (406)789-3969, with any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation and support.

04/11/2026

Rest easy Chief 13. We got it covered from here. Till we meet again.

Karsten Hovland, a beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 43.

04/10/2026

Funeral services and a reception for our fire chief, Karsten Hovland, will be held on April 18th. As plans are finalized, we will post more information. Please keep the family and the fire department in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

04/10/2026

We take care of everyone, even down to little kittens found in a burning pile of posts!