It's hard to believe that it is time to write another article about what is happening at the Bigfork Fire Department. With August temperatures in September, the Flathead County Commissioners has extended no burning through the month of October or until we receive significant rainfall.

For those that live in Lake County, open burning will be allowed October through November. Remember to call air quality (751-8144) before you burn.

October is fire prevention month. We will be visiting both the Bigfork Elementary and Swan River schools the week of Oct. 5 with fire prevention information and will allow the students to see our different apparatuses.

Staff at the Bigfork Fire Department will be conducting tours for pre-school children at the fire hall.

The construction of our new training facilities is moving right along.

The main shell should be completed by the middle of October.

The Friends of Bigfork Fire raised $29,150 at their recent fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who participated and/or donated.

It is greatly appreciated by the Bigfork Fire Department members and Friends of Bigfork Fire.

For the month of September, we had 22 calls: forest, woods or wild land fire (2); land alert helicopter (3); vehicle accident with injuries (2); gasoline or flammable liquid spill (1); power line down (1); arcing, shorted electrical equipment (1); dispatched and canceled en route (1); smoke scare, odor of smoke (1); hazmat release investigation w/ no hazmat (1); alarm system sounded due to malfunction (1); smoke detector activation, no fire – unintentional (1); gas leak (natural or LPG) (2); building fire (1); motor vehicle accident with no injuries (3); and authorized controlled burning (1).

The top responder for the month of September was firefighter Mike Shea who responded to 13 calls.

Fire prevention message: Stay fire smart: Don't get burned!Wayne Loeffler is the chief of the Bigfork Fire Department.