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1. Are tours of the fire station available?

Yes. Call 406-758-7760 to make an appointment. Please specify the following:

• Date and time of request
• Number of people in the group
• Age of participants
• Contact person’s name and phone number
• Which station your group would prefer to tour

Be mindful that our first priority is emergency response and disruptions and / or cancellations may occur.

2. Does the fire department rescue cats from trees?

No. Place an open can of tuna at the base of the tree and leave the area. The cat should come down on its own. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

3. Can I get my blood pressure taken at the fire station?

Yes. Stop by either station, preferably between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and we will be happy to take your blood pressure. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

4. Do you have a volunteer program?

No. Kalispell Fire has been a career department since 1935. If you are interested in volunteering as a firefighter, rewarding opportunities exist in many of the surrounding fire districts. See our resources page for more information.

5. Why do fire engines / trucks and ambulances respond for emergency medical calls?

For faster advanced medical care. Most of Kalispell’s firefighters are cross-trained as paramedics and we carry much of the same medical equipment on our fire apparatus as the ambulances. For serious medical calls, the patient will benefit from having the closest available unit respond to initiate care and having the additional personnel to assist with care and preparation for transport saves even more time. In these cases, an engine company is sent with an ambulance so that advanced care (intravenous access, medication administration, cardiac electrical therapy, etc.) can be done promptly resulting in better patient outcomes. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

6. What should I do when an emergency vehicle is approaching displaying emergency lights and sirens?

Calmly pull to the right shoulder or curb and stop, when safe to do so. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

7. Why do I see fire trucks or ambulances parked outside of grocery stores?

Firefighters work a unique schedule consisting of 24-hour shifts and have no allotted meal breaks. They generally combine their own money to supply food for the shift. They do not have the freedom to go anywhere alone, as crew integrity must be maintained to allow the most effective service at the time of an emergency.

Firefighters are often out of their stations for long hours running emergency calls, training, conducting fire inspections, hydrant testing and fulfilling public education requests. They remain available for calls by portable radio and will respond regardless of location or non-emergent status anytime they are outside of the station. Also, this is a great time for the community to say ‘hi’, ask questions of the firefighters, or view the fire apparatus. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

8. What is Kalispell’s ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating?

Kalispell Fire has a level 3 ISO rating. ISO is a leading source of information about property/casualty insurance risk. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

9. Can I burn waste and / or have a bonfire in my yard?

Open burning is prohibited at all times in the city. A small recreational warming fire is allowed so long as it does not produce offensive smoke or odor emissions and is contained inside an approved structure and is not within 25 feet of a structure. Attendance is required at all times and the fire must be fully extinguished upon completion. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

10. How do I get my child’s car seat inspected?

You may call the fire department at 406-758-7760 and schedule an appointment. On some days we may not have a certified technician on duty, so drop-ins are not encouraged. You may also contact the Flathead Health Department and make an appointment. They also provide car seat clinics valley-wide.

11. Can I do a ride-a-long on a fire truck or ambulance?

Usually riders are limited to EMT-Basic and Paramedic students. However, we do accept riders on a space-available basis at the discretion of the Duty Officer. All riders may be subject to a background check. Riders that are not affiliated with a recognized college and an approved course of study will be strictly observers only. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

12. How do I become a firefighter with Kalispell?

The Kalispell Fire Department occasionally hires qualified individuals, as needed. We look for motivated people with work history and education related to the fields of pre-hospital medicine (EMS) and fire science. As with most career departments, the selection process is highly competitive and should warrant serious preparation. When openings occur, we conduct our own hiring process including: a written exam, physical agility test, background questionnaire and multiple interview panels. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

13. How do I become an EMT or Paramedic?

All relevant Emergency Medical Services coursework is offered locally at Flathead Valley Community College.

14. What do firefighters do when they are not running fire or EMS calls?

Kalispell firefighters maintain 20 hours of training per month as a minimum standard. All firefighters are at least EMT-Basic certified, with most being Paramedics; these Emergency Medical Services certifications have additional continuing education requirements. They also conduct “company-level” commercial fire prevention inspections, check and maintain equipment and apparatus, teach fire safety to schools, test hydrants, study, maintain physical condition, conduct station tours, supervise fire drills, and document all fire and Emergency Medical Services calls. Some firefighters are involved in various departmental committees and special teams, such as hazardous materials, rope rescue and tactical paramedicine (SWAT medic). Due to shifts of 24 hours, firefighters also shop, pay for, and prepare all of their own meals and complete normal household chores around the station. For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.

15. What can I do to improve fire safety in my work area?

First line supervisors should conduct work site surveys of their area on a regular basis, at least quarterly. These surveys should include observations of work site safety and housekeeping issues and should specifically address:

• Proper storage of chemicals and supplies
• Monitoring of electrical equipment, extension cords
• Availability and condition of fire safety equipment
• Unobstructed access to fire extinguishers
• Emergency evacuation routes.

Also, they should ensure that an emergency evacuation plan is present in work areas and that personnel are familiar with the plan. Emergency egress should be kept clear and every exit clearly visible or the route to it conspicuously identified in such a manner that occupants of the building will readily know the direction of escape from any point. Main building exit and main pathways to exits are to be marked by illuminated exit signs. Each exit sign (other than internally illuminated signs) are to be illuminated by a reliable light. All building or business safety equipment (extinguishers, fire hoses, exit signs, emergency lab equipment, etc.) need to be inspected at least annually and repaired or replaced if inoperative, damaged or missing. At no time should an exit be blocked. Any doorway or passageway which is not an exit or access to an exit but which may be mistaken for an exit, must be identified by a sign reading "Not An Exit" or a sign indicating its actual use (i.e., "Storeroom"). For more information, contact us at 406-758-7760.