Fire Prevention Week will be Oct. 3 to 9. This year’s theme is “Beep Beep Beep... Smoke Alarms: A sound that you can live with.”

We will be visiting Bigfork Elementary and Swan River schools during the week. We will be practicing fire drills, going into the class rooms, giving demonstrations and allowing students to view the apparatuses. On Thursday, Oct. 7, the Bigfork Fire Department will be hosting an open house at the Bigfork Fire Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Firefighters will be available to provide information on smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and equipment on each apparatus. We will have smoke alarms available for those who do not currently have smoke alarms in their home.

Open burning began Friday, Oct. 1. A burning permit is not required, but you must call air quality first at 751-8144 to verify that the air quality is allowable to burn.

The Bigfork Fire Department would like to thank Friends of Bigfork Fire and all community members for their work and support during the fundraiser held on Friday, Sept. 10. We are very grateful for your efforts.

Special thanks to those that supported our 9/11 stand in remembrance of our fallen brethren.

Bigfork Fire Department is selling reflective address signs. If we can’t find you, we can’t help you. The cost of a sign is $15. Stop by the office and pick up an order form. We also have hats and T-shirts available for sale at $20 each.

For the month of September, the Bigfork Fire Department responded to 39 incidents: building fire (1), chimney or flue fire, confined to chimney or flue (1), dumpster or other outside trash receptacle fire (1), land medical helicopter (2), medical assist, assist EMS crew (1), EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury (28), vehicle accident with injuries (1), motor vehicle accident with no injuries (2), gas leak (natural gas or LPG) (1) and unauthorized burning (1).

Top responders were Lt. Marv Gielen (24) and firefighter Tracy Norred (15).

Loeffler is the chief of the Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department.