Coram-West Glacier firemens’ ball coming up

Your Coram-West Glacier Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service is one of the longest serving volunteer departments in Flathead County. 

Founded in 1945, we’ve now been serving our 21 square mile Fire District for 80 years. We’re still here, with our well-equipped fire halls in Coram and West Glacier, and we’re still answering the community’s emergency calls for help.

That’s the good news—we’re responding. 

The not so good news is we’re stretched very thin, volunteer-wise. Please note our volunteer roster, with years of service, at the bottom of this letter. While the total numbers looks pretty good, the reality is only a handful of us are available on a fairly regular basis to respond. Many work full time outside the district, or are retired (and some now in our 80s), and are rarely available to respond.

Here’s a repeat of an important message from our President and Assistant Chief, Matt Cox:

“I joined this department when I was 18 years old. Last week, I marked 41 years of service. I’ve answered more calls than I can count ­— fires, car wrecks, heart attacks, rescues. Some ended in relief, some in heartbreak. Through every one, we showed up. We always showed up. But here’s what you need to know: it’s still the same crew. The same folks who were running into danger back then are still doing it now. We’re older, slower, and fewer. 

“And we won’t be here forever. When the pager goes off tomorrow, next month, next year, there may be no one left to respond. We don’t need applause. We need backup. If you’ve ever thought, ‘Maybe someday I’ll help,’ that someday is now.

“Not next week. 

“Now. 

“We’ll teach you. We’ll support you. But we need you to step forward. Because if this community loses us, it loses the safety we’ve bled to provide. 

The future of this department, and the lives and property it saves, hinge on people who are willing to care enough to act. Just show up.”

Because the community looks forward to what will be our 51st annual Firefighter’s Ball, it will happen Saturday, Sept. 12, 5 to 11 p.m., at the Dew Drop Inn in Coram, with the DLO Big Band (formerly the Don Lawrence Orchestra) for your dancing and listening enjoyment as well as a silent auction. 

This year’s raffle prize is a pristine 2001 Harley Davidson Touring Model with a Screaming Eagle Package, generously donated by a Coram resident. Tickets are available at all Canyon Bars or from any Coram/West Glacier firefighter. Winner to be drawn at the benefit.

We are your neighbors. We volunteer our time to acquire and maintain fire fighting and medical emergency equipment, and train so we know how to use it when you need our help. We ask that you do your part with the most generous donation you can afford. And yes, we need more volunteers. We will train and equip you—just show up the 1st or 3rd Wednesday any month at the Coram Hall (corner Hwy 2 and Seville Lane), 7 p.m., or ask any local firefighter for more information.

You can also help by making sure your chimney is clean before heating season, replace frayed electrical cords, have working smoke detectors, an emergency exit plan, have a clear defensible space around your home, and be sure you have your street address numbers clearly displayed out front so we can find you quickly in an emergency.

Working together we can make our community safe. We hope to see you at the dance Sept. 12.

The Coram-West Glacier Volunteer Fire Department & Emergency Medical Service

(Listed with years of volunteer service)

Walter Tabb, Chief, Fire/EMS (44 years) 

Matt Cox, President & Assistant Chief

Patrick Bakey (4 months)* Gil Jordan (41 years)

Mike Cooney (2 years) Kelly King (10 years)

Macy Crowell (3 months)* Brad Kuzmic, (34 years)

Chris Dalimata (15 years) Mackenzie Meier (2 months)*

Madeleine Dalimata, (7 years) John Paliga (5 years)

Loewen Davis (4 months)* Jamie Paul, (5 years)

Laura Funk (6 months)* Zac Rubin, (3 years)

John Gillespie, (34 years) Dan Tintinger (20 years)

Kit Johnson (2 months)* 

* Seasonal