BIGFORK Quick Response Unit...  In the early 1970s, a local dentist, Doug Smith began responding to medical emergencies with Bigfork Fire Department.  He organized community CPR classes in Bigfork beginning in 1974 and followed that with Advanced First Aid (AFA) classes in 1976.  Several Fire Department members and community members enrolled, in the first AFA class leading to the formation of Bigfork Quick Response Unit.

Bigfork Quick Response Unit registered with the State in 1978 and became a licensed, transporting ambulance in 1984.   Defibrillation and advanced life support level care was introduced to Bigfork in 1984.   In 1990, we were one of only 5 advanced life support licensed ambulances in the state of Montana.

January 1, 2005 marked another historic day in the history of Bigfork Fire Department and Bigfork Ambulance.  The two groups joined together in a trial merger to become Bigfork Fire & Ambulance.   While the we learned a lot from each other and we progressed as an organization, financial issues eventually became a problem and in May 2006, the Medical Division of Bigfork Fire & Ambulance voted to end the trial merger and once become Bigfork Volunteer Ambulance on June 1, 2006.

Our Future ...

The volunteers of Bigfork Ambulance continue today to provide quality advanced level emergency medical services to our community. 

Bigfork continues to grow.  In 1983 we had 20 members and responded to 71 calls.  In 2005, we had 24 responders and responded to 480 calls.   As call volume continues to increase so will the demands on our volunteers.  In the future an all paid staff will be needed.  We have set goals to help us move in that direction.  Our dreams include a building that will house our ambulances, provide a training room, and include living quarters for paid staff as we begin to add them.   Demands on our fire department are also increasing.  As we both continue to add paid staff, the new building would allow easy expansion to permit Bigfork Fire Department to also take advantage of much needed space.