Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual Bison Burger BBQ this Saturday, July 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Though the trademark bison burgers will be the same as years’ past, this year the fire department has help from their partner, Friends of Ferndale Montana Fire Department.  

“Our long-term purpose is to help raise money for our local fire department which has financial needs to catch up with current firefighting technique and training,” Atlee Hitchcock, Friends of Ferndale Montana Fire Department board member noted. “Like everything else, the costs to maintain or upgrade firefighting equipment has skyrocketed. So we reach out to the community and ask for donations. We also are writing grant proposals to sources who say we meet their grant requirements.” 

Chairman of the Fire Department Board Bill Morton said that in the past, volunteer firefighters were responsible for orchestrating their own fundraisers. But with rising prices, the time people have to volunteer their time outside of work has been reduced. The Friends have been able to help with that side of the department’s operation.  

“The county is really strapped as far as what it can provide to all of the fire departments in Lake County, they all struggle... We could do a mill levy or float a bond, but people are being taxed so bad now that we didn’t want to put a strain on the local residents. We decided fundraising was the way to go, and it’s working,” Morton said.  

In the past, fundraising has helped with the purchase of upgrades for equipment. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Morton recalled that parts the fire department used to be able to purchase as needed to update their air packs were suddenly sold out. Fundraising helped with the purchase of new packs, in addition to financing.  

Now, the department is hoping to purchase new radios and RIT-PAKs, which provide protection for firefighters in wildfire situations. In the future, they also hope to expand the Ferndale fire station to make more room for storage; currently equipment is housed in a 40-foot storage container and could be made more accessible if kept in the main building. There are also hopes of making room for a smaller quick response truck in the hall.  

Ferndale currently has 12 volunteer firefighters to outfit. This is up from past years, with six or seven volunteers. They dedicate each Wednesday night to training, plus additional trainings when applicable. The barbeque will serve as an opportunity to inform the community about their work and connect them with the volunteers.  

“Not only are the bison burgers good, you get to meet new people in your community. Don’t be afraid to stick your hand out and say hi,” Morton said.  

The barbecue will take place at Ferndale Fire Hall off Highway 209 in Bigfork. There will be grilled bison burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, huckleberry ice cream, fire engine rides, a silent auction, live music and more. 

“If it wasn’t for the community being so giving, there’s no way that we’d be able to function,” Morton said. “It’s just a big thank you to the people of our community who have kept us afloat.”