Earlier this month, the Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program awarded $36,375 in grants supporting community safety projects proposed by seven local nonprofit organizations. The Coram-West Glacier Volunteer Fire District  received $10,000 towards replacing handheld radios critical to communications along the 55-mile swath of Highway 2 that runs from Hungry Horse to Marias Pass and borders Glacier National Park, the Flathead River, the Flathead National Forest, the BNSF and Amtrak rail lines, and gas and electric infrastructure.

John Gillespie, Coram-West Glacier Chief, noted the lack of cell service in much of the area and lamented that the district’s existing radios are not always able to communicate with agencies using more modern equipment.

 “Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest operate on different frequencies than does Flathead County dispatch, making communications very difficult, and even impossible, during mutual aid operations,” Gillespie said. “Sometimes, we’re also working with ALERT, Highway Patrol, or Glacier County. Communication is the lifeline that first responders need to safely and efficiently conduct emergency operations.” 

Coram-West Glacier responded to more than 200 fire and other emergency calls in 2024 and provided mutual aid to Hungry Horse, Martin City, Blankenship, and other nearby fire departments. 

“These days, being a volunteer with this department is a lot less about fighting fire and a lot more about responding to vehicle accidents, river emergencies, backcountry incidents, people getting stuck in the snow, and more. In the 1990s, we had about 27 calls per year. A couple of years ago, we had over 300. We could use more volunteers!” Gillespie said.

The Roundup for Safety Board of Directors noted the organization’s matching $10,000 funds towards the radios, which will cost $20,000 altogether, and thanked them for their dedicated service to Flathead Electric Cooperative members and visitors in the Canyon area. 

January grantees also include: 

Big Brothers Big Sisters – background checks -- $2,500 

Crown Gravity Collective – WFA certifications, first aid kits -- $4,560 

North Valley Food Bank – safety camera system -- $9,315 

North Valley Music School – safety nets -- $6,000 

Flathead High School – safety rubber mat runners -- $1,600 

Bigfork Senior Center – AEDs -- $2,400