Foundation seeks remaining funds for building

Members of the Friends of the Bigfork Fire Department are hoping that last Friday's "Brats, Burgers and Band" fundraiser raised enough to round out the final costs of a three-year project.

Early estimates will come in later this week, but foundation President Jim Sticka is hopeful it will bring in the remaining $40,000 needed for the new live fire training structure under construction near the department's Echo Lake station.

The largely volunteer-based Bigfork Fire Department doesn't get enough money from taxes for training facilities and certain equipment, so the Friends of the Bigfork Fire Department was created three years ago to help fill that need, Sticka said.

The re-ignitable training building is the group's first project and is on target to be completed by the end of October.

"The safety of our volunteers is foremost," Sticka said. "Live fire training gives firefighters a chance to train in a real live fire rather than on the job. It's very important to have experience first."

The Bigfork Fire Department includes three county-paid staff and 26 volunteer firefighters. The three-story concrete and steel structure to train these volunteers, along with firefighters from the Creston and Ferndale fire departments, will cost a total of about $160,000.

The "Brats, Burgers and Band" annual event, which aside from food also includes a golf tournament, tennis tournament, fire trucks, auction and live music, has brought in between $50,000 and $70,000 in past years.

Final figures won't be known for a while, as the group sent out letters asking for donations as well, but the fact that Flathead Bank served up roughly 300 burgers and brats at this year's event held at the Harbor Village Pavilion is a good sign that the group may be close to its goal.

Auction items including a big screen television, a two person inflatable kayak and a lamp created by one of the volunteer firefighters were all donated by members of the community.

Once the training structure is completed, the foundation is looking to start new projects to support the department. What the group's next project will be is still up for discussion. Sticka said he is waiting on a "wish list" from the department.