Columbia Falls Fire Department had a busy year

The Columbia Falls Fire Department had a very busy year in 2025, as chief Karl Weeks gave an annual report to council last week.

The fire department responded to 433 calls, including 32 structure fires, nine vehicle fires and a whopping 96 vehicle crashes. The fire calls include mutual aid.

The total calls are an increase of 42% from 2020, when they responded to 302 calls.

They added eight new volunteers and have close to 30 volunteers total, along with four paid staff, including Weeks.

All told, volunteers put in more than 3,500 training hours and 3,892 incident response hours.

In addition, more officers have responded to incidents more than ever before, which leads to improved incident command and stronger oversight, as officers have greater experience. Only 4.85% of calls in 2025 did not have an officer present.

The Firefighters Association continue to be a key partner in supporting the department, Weeks said. The Association purchased more than $40,000 in equipment for the department, including all new battery tools for the department’s new engine.

The department has a strong relationship between the city and the rural department.

“Through coordinated oversight, shared priorities, and disciplined financial management, this collaboration maximizes taxpayer investment while maintaining a high level of emergency service delivery. The result is a fire department that is operationally strong, financially accountable, and well positioned to meet the community’s current and future public safety needs,” Weeks noted.

In 2026 the department plans to add a fifth paid firefighter and the 30th volunteer should be sworn in next month.

An emphasis on training will continue, with the staff teaching the Firefighter I Academy,  representing a significant milestone for the department, Weeks noted.