News from the Kalispell Firefighters

Emergency Responder Levy

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:28:40 GMT

Dedicated Kalispell Emergency Responder Levy

Kalispell City Council is asking the citizens of Kalispell to decide on an emergency responder mill levy to further fund Police, Fire, and Ambulance services. The mail-ballot election will be sent out by the Flathead County Election Department February 28, with a return deadline of March 19, 2024.

BACKGROUND

The City of Kalispell has recognized the challenges of providing the community with a level of emergency response as compared to industry benchmarks. A third-party consultant, The Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) evaluated the operational and staffing conditions within our Law Enforcement and Fire/Ambulance (EMS) Departments and identified a need for further staffing and equipment to provide the recommended level of service to the community. The City Council reviewed the reports and the city fiscal forecast, and approved bringing this ballot levy forward to allow the residents the opportunity to vote on the service levels they would like to receive.

PURPOSE OF FUNDING

The Emergency Responder Levy would fund Kalispell Law Enforcement with 11 additional employees, and the Fire/EMS (Ambulance) department with a third fire station and 27 additional employees and related capital equipment to support these operations. This would provide 1-2 additional officers on every shift, an additional fire engine staffed during all hours, and an additional ambulance staffed during all hours. This additional response capacity will help improve the levels of service provided to the community as identified in the CPSM reports.

FISCAL IMPACT

The proposed ballot calls for the voters to authorize the City of Kalispell to levy up to sixty and nine tenths (60.9) additional mills per year (approximately $4,626,170.00 in the first year, based on FY2024 mill value). The impact of levying sixty and nine tenths (60.9) additional mills in the current year on a home valued at $100,000, would be approximately $82.22 in additional property taxes per year, equaling $6.85 per month, or $0.23 per day. The impact of levying sixty and nine tenths (60.9) additional mills in the current year on a home valued at $200,000, would be approximately $164.43 in additional property taxes per year, equaling $13.70 per month, or $0.45 per day. The impact of levying sixty and nine tenths (60.9) additional mills in the current year on a home valued at $450,000, would be approximately $369.97 in additional property taxes per year, equaling $30.83 per month, or $1.01 per day. Funding would be dedicated to the sole purpose of funding our Emergency Response, as outlined in the ballot language.

VOTING

The Flathead County Election Department will send a ballot to all Kalispell city limit registered voters on February 28, 2024. Ballots must be returned by March 19, 2024, at 8 p.m. If mailing, 66 cents postage is required, and the ballot must be RECEIVED by the Elections Department by March 19. A postmark cannot be accepted so if you mail your ballot make sure there is enough time for it to reach the election offic e. Ballots can also be taken to the Election Office at 290B N. Main Street in Kalispell Monday - Friday, March 4 through March 18 from 8 am to 5 pm or on Tuesday, March 19, between 7 am and 8 pm. Ballots cannot be accepted at City Hall or any other city facility.

Check your Voter Status or Register to Vote.

Check to see if your address is within the official city limits of Kalispell . City limits are outlined in black.

Work Session Video reviewing Kalispell Fire Dept. CPSM Report

Work Session Video reviewing Kalispell Police Dept. CPSM Report

City of Kalispell's First Responder Levy Info Page

Honoring those who have served

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:30:29 GMT

Honoring our veterans

Today we stand with the military veterans of our country. Thank you all who have served in our armed forces and paved the way for all the freedoms we are given today. We want to make sure your service is not forgotten. Thank you.

9/11

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 22:18:16 GMT

We will never forget.

19 years ago, the unimaginable happened. We stand in solidarity with first responders and humanity across the country as we remember the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, 8 Paramedics, and 2997 civilains who lost their lives that day. "We will never forget."

Kalispell fire station temporarily closed due to insufficient staffing

kalispellfirefighters@gmail.com (Kalispell Firefighters) — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 16:59:57 GMT

KPAX article about the temporary closure of a Kalispell fire station.

Click here to see the article by KPAX about the temporary closure of a Kalispell fire station.

Kalispell Firefighters Press Release

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:14:23 GMT

Kalispell Firefighters Press Release

July 24th, 2020

KALISPELL FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION 62 CLOSURES

KALISPELL, MT, JULY 24th - Kalispell Fire Station 62, located behind Costco on 255 Old Reserve Drive was closed on July 21st and will remain closed until July 25th at 0700 hrs. Fire Station 62 is closed due to ongoing staffing shortages. As a result, an inability to staff the multiple apparatus providing emergency services to the northern district of the City of Kalispell is evident. Expect prolonged response times to emergencies and delays in emergency care as we attempt to remedy this situation. Due to these circumstances, our membership feels it is necessary to reach out to the public.

Throughout 2019-2020 there have been multiple occurrences of Kalispell Fire Station 62 closing for both partial periods as well as full 24-hour shift durations as a result of staffing shortages. Since its opening in 2006, Station 62 has provided an ALL HAZARD response to the northern part of Kalispell and our mutual aid partner communities. This includes staffing Ladder 642, two Advanced Life Support ambulances, a Wild Land Fire Brush truck, and a water tender. Unfortunately, it appears this trend is continuous, and the community will experience further station closures in the future. The current predicament of the Station 62 temporary closure, with no available staffing is unprecedented and dangerous for our community, particularly during what is the highest call volume time of year.

Although it is stated that we have “robust mutual aid,” we do not accept this as a solution to the staffing shortage for the Kalispell Fire Department. It is imperative to examine the delays in 911/call response as a result of relying on outside volunteer agencies to augment the 24-hour coverage of a fully staffed, professional Fire Department. Funded by city taxpayers, there is a justified expectation of a particular level of service and response. Relying on outside agencies to provide a service on behalf of the City of Kalispell places an undue strain upon outside agencies, as well as leaving their districts short of response capabilities to their own emergency needs. These staffing shortages create a burden on mutual aid partners and foster an ever-dangerous work environment for already exhausted Kalispell Firefighters attempting to respond to ever increasing call volumes. KFD firefighters have collectively worked over 2,000 hours of overtime since January 1, 2020 due to the staffing shortage.

In the Spring of 2018, the City of Kalispell funded an “EMS Study.” This study cost taxpayers over $40,000.00, paid to an outside consulting firm. Their report recommended 11 firefighters per shift, which would bring total staffing to 33 firefighters. For reference, full staffing in 2010 was 30 firefighters with an annual call volume of less than 3000 calls. Current staffing at KFD is 26 firefighters (9, 9, and 8) with a projected call volume of over 4000 calls this year. To date, there has been little to no action made in heeding the staffing recommendations found in this study. In the past, overtime was called when staffing dropped below 7 firefighters. In recent years overtime is only utilized when staffing drops below 6 firefighters.

Over the last 14 years, the City of Kalispell has and continues to experience exponential growth. Still, there has been no clear or dedicated effort to augment the Fire Department budget or response capabilities in order to meet the increasing call volume, district size and strain placed upon those responsible for responding to emergencies. While there has been a decade and a half of vacancy savings, increased tax base, and revenues--including impact fees--the Kalispell Fire Department has seen a reduction in staffing and manpower with a significant increase to call volume. Currently, there is a hiring process taking place to fill 2 of the 3 vacancies that the city of Kalispell's organizational chart identifies. These positions have been vacant for some time and are not adding a position to the budget. This will only attempt to remedy the amount of station closures and lack of manpower. Without a significant increase to staffing, these issues will continue.

Residents of Kalispell should be advised that the consequence of continual station closures undoubtedly creates a disturbing trend in which services expected by our community are not met. Numerous other results of these staffing shortages can be anticipated as delays in response, increased morbidity and mortality, and a decreased short/long-term patient outcome following initial patient contact. The ultimate cost of this failure in planning or foresight is not to be measured in taxes, other monies, or increased firefighter injuries/burnout of personnel—it is gambling with the lives of our friends, families and neighbors. The immeasurable cost of our decreased response efficacy places the community at ever-increasing risk while erroneously leaving First Responders to blame.

To voice your concerns regarding this matter, please contact the City Council at citycouncil@kalispell.com

For more information or to schedule an interview please contact Don Thibert at kalispellfirefighters@gmail.com or call 406-249-1570.

News from the Kalispell Firefighters

Emergency Responder Levy

Dedicated Kalispell Emergency Responder Levy ﻿

BACKGROUND

PURPOSE OF FUNDING

FISCAL IMPACT

VOTING

Work Session Video reviewing Kalispell Fire Dept. CPSM Report

Work Session Video reviewing Kalispell Police Dept. CPSM Report

City of Kalispell's First Responder Levy Info Page

Honoring those who have served

Honoring our veterans

9/11

We will never forget.

Kalispell fire station temporarily closed due to insufficient staffing

KPAX article about the temporary closure of a Kalispell fire station.

Kalispell Firefighters Press Release

Kalispell Firefighters Press Release

Dedicated Kalispell Emergency Responder Levy