Fire chief submits resignation from 'dream job'

Bigfork Fire Department Chief Chuck Harris will resign as head of the volunteer force effective tomorrow, Jan. 30, he announced on Monday.

Assistant Fire Chief Nat O’Farrell will act as interim chief while the board of trustees decides how to go about finding Harris’ replacement.

“It has been a dream job for me, serving as chief in my home town, in the department that both my dad and my grandfather served,” Harris said.

Harris has served as the fire chief in Bigfork for just over two years and been a member of the department for five.

Harris said his resignation was triggered by a differing of opinion on leadership styles and management and that relinquishing the reins was in the best interest of the department.

“Rather than create division, I felt it would be best to step down,” he said. “This will let someone else see if they can take us to the next level.”

Harris said he will remain with the department as the safety officer and administrator for the Firewise Grant — a government program that helps homeowners with the cost of making their land more wildland fire resistant, the positions he held before he was promoted.

During his tenure, Harris cited the purchase of new and better equipment, a higher community profile for the department and the formation of the non-profit Friends of Bigfork Fire organization as the developments he was most proud to be a part of.

The department took delivery of a 105-foot ladder truck late last year, a piece of equipment that is the envy of many departments in the area.

“We are fortunate to live in a community with some of the best equipment in the state,” he said. “It’s an indication we’re trying to be as close to a professionally paid organization as we can.”

In Friends of Bigfork Fire, the department has created a dedicated fundraising arm that gives the community plenty of opportunity to contribute. In the two years since the organization’s inception, it has raised more than $120,000 for the department, much of which will go toward a new training facility to be constructed at the Echo Lake satellite station this spring.

Other notable accomplishments of Harris’ time as chief have been the continuing of the emotional yearly vigil for firefighters who died on September 11, 2001 and the purchase of “Class A” uniforms that Harris said give the department a professional look and help raise standing in the community.

Harris remained chief after suffering a stroke early last year that initially left him unable to completely control some of his muscles. Rigorous physical therapy coupled with Harris’ stubborn determination led to a near complete recovery, to the point that Harris has even resumed training for cycling races. Doctors cleared him to return to full duty only a few months after the incident.

Fire department trustee Zack Anderson said the board wasn’t sure yet whether a new chief would be promoted from within or one would be recruited.

“Chuck is a great guy and brought a lot of honor and dignity and respect to the fire hall,” he said. “He made a decision and we’re going to support him with it.”

Harris said stepping down wasn’t easy, but that having the opportunity to serve as chief was more than worthwhile.

“I loved this job,” Harris said. “It was an honor to serve the community of Bigfork.”