With the beginning of May, open burning is no longer allowed. From May 1 to June 30, open burning will require a burn permit. Burn permits are available on the internet at www. firesafekalispell.com.

Fill out the online application and a permit will be generated and e-mailed to you. You can then print it on your home printer.

Burn permits are valid for 10 days per issuance and can be renewed for additional 10 day periods. You will need your legal location 'section/township/range). It is your responsibility to call the Flathead County Air Quality hotline before you burn (751-8144).

Bigfork Fire Department would like to thank Nancy and Tearn All for donating a new flag for our flag pole.

On Wednesday, April 28, five fire department members went into Baskin-Robbins to help support Baskin-Robbins International Fundraiser for Fallen Firefighters. This year the crew served 2,100 scoops of ice cream which was a record for the Kalispell location.

For the month of April, we responded to 12 incidents: passenger vehicle fire (1), brush or brush and grass mixture (1), grass fire (1), land medical helicopter (2), motor vehicle accident with no injuries (2), swimming/recreational water area rescue (1), gas leak (natural gas or LPG) (1), power line down (1), authorized controlled burning (1), alarm system sounded due to malfunction (1).

Top responders were Lt. Marvin Gielen (8) and firefighters John Malison (8), Chad Oster (8) and Mike Shea (9).

Loeffler is the chief of the Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department.