In the early 1970s Dr. Doug Smith, a local dentist, beganresponding to medical emergencies with Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department. His efforts eventually led to the formation of the Bigfork Quick Response Unit, a group of community members providing care until an ambulance could arrive from Kalispell or Polson. Bigfork QRU registered with the state in 1978 and became a licensed transporting ambulance service in 1984. Bigfork QRU/Ambulance was one of only five licensed advanced life support ambulances in Montana in 1990.

Today, nearly 30 years after the introduction of emergency medical care in Bigfork, responses are still handled by a group of volunteers numbering fewer than two dozen, despite a nearly seven fold increase in call volumes. The explosive population growth in the area continues to place an increased demand upon our dedicated volunteers, and we are forced to acknowledged that
 a full time paid staff will be necessary in the very near future to insure the consistent delivery of quality compassionate medical response. As we approach the end of 2006, we ask you to join us in laying the foundation to provide for the future emergency medical care in Bigfork.

What is Bigfork Volunteer Ambulance?  

• We are a non-profit, 501c-3 corporation providing emergency medical response and ambulance transport for the residents of Bigfork and surrounding communities.

• In 2005, we responded to 480 calls and transported nearly 70% of our patients to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

• Our current membership includes 22 medically trained volunteers consisting of 5 paramedics, 5 EMT-Intermediates, 11 EMT-Basics, and 1 EMT-First Responder, two part time and one full time paid daytime paramedics.  We are your friends, your neighbors, your family.

• No tax dollars are received , and we are funded entirely by donations and fees billed for services.

• In addition to providing emergency medical care, many of our members dedicate themselves to providing training and continuing education opportunities not just to our members, but also to responders throughout Western Montana.

What is the purpose of this capital campaign?

• We are undertaking the design and construction of a dedicated facility to house our ambulances, paid responders and administrative staff.

• Greatly increased call volumes and dwindling volunteer force will necessitate a full time paid response staff in the very near future, and we must have a place to house and train these responders prior to further hiring.

  • For nearly thirty years, we have been able to house our vehicles and hold our training in the Bigfork Fire Hall, thanks to the generosity of the Bigfork Fire District Trustees. However, space is tight in the fire hall, and there are no quarters for paid responders. The fire department is bursting at the seams, and could make good use of the space we vacate.

  • A larger and better equipped facility will allow us to continue offering training and education to our members and to others, insuring quality emergency medical care for the future.

Where will the new facility be located?

• We will be constructing our new hall on Highway 82 ("The Somers cutacross"), approximately 200 yards west of Highway 35. This location is approximately three miles north of the existing Fire Hall.

How will this move affect me?

• As Bigfork continues to grow, the population center will continue to move north of the Village. This new location provides better access to Eagle Bend and will allow for more rapid response times on Highways 35 and 83 and the growing Lower Valley and Echo Lake areas.

• We currently house an ambulance in the Ferndale Fire Hall, and will continue to do so. In combination with the medical Aid Car used by responders south of Bigfork, response times to emergencies south and west of Bigfork will remain unchanged.

• An astonishing number of accidents involving emergency vehicles occur at busy intersections. Moving our facility a short distance away from the increasing congestion near the intersection of Grand Drive and Highway 35 will allow us to continue to respond rapidly while still insuring the safety of our members and other drivers.

How much will this cost?

If we are fortunate enough to raise funds beyond this goal, all additional revenue will go directly into response gear and apparatus. Capital Campaign Pledge Agreement.

Bigfork Volunteer Ambulance is an organization committed to providing quality emergency medical care to the rural Flathead Valley communities of Bigfork, East Lake Shore, Ferndale, Echo Lake and Swan Lake regions in Northwestern Montana. We are a non-profit volunteer group dedicated to the service of our friends, neighbors and visitors to the area when the needs are the greatest.

If you have any questions or need further information please contact one of the following capital campaign coordinators listed below:

• Tracy Norred, President (406) 261-03097
  Corey Salois, Vice President (406) 253-0531
  Derek Vandeberg, Director of Operations (406) 250-9273 

Bigfork Volunteer Ambulance
810 Grand Drive
Bigfork, MT 59911