On a warm Saturday afternoon, a crowd filled the pavilion at Good Old Days Park in St. Ignatius, browsing the auction items, purchasing tickets for the many raffles and enjoying the pork dinner, all to support the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department.  

This was the 31st annual St. Ignatius Firefighters Auxiliary picnic. The organization's purpose is to help raise funds to support the fire department's unmet needs and provide some community support, such as a $2,000 scholarship for a graduating senior.  

Just last year, the auxiliary raised over $24,000, which was split between the department's general fund and retirement fund, and helped purchase Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).  

According to previous Leader reporting, the cost of these apparatuses increased from $3,000 to $4,000 in the early 2000s to over $7,500 each. And that’s not the only rising costs these small departments are facing.  

The St. Ignatius department, like others in the area, operates under a memorandum of understanding, meaning the rural and city departments operate as one. Mission Fire receives support from both the St. Ignatius Rural Fire Board and the Town of St. Ignatius, but the budget still remains small.  

The department alone covers the base of the Mission range, up Highway 93 to Post Creek and south down Ravalli Hill. Last year, they responded to 150 calls with 22 firefighters and four EMTs.  

Fire department training and safety officer Kevin Dandridge said last year's funds supported replacing SCBAs on two fire trucks. This year, they hope this fundraising picnic will help them get new SCBAs on another truck and purchase turnout gear. Before purchasing four new SCBAs, the department reported having 13 expired SCBAs last year.  

Auxiliary treasurer Tom Mullins explained that the picnic gets harder every year due to the number of other Montana spring events, and the economy plays a factor as well.  

The event included a live auction, silent auction, two-gun raffles, and a beef and hog raffle. The 25 volunteers also helped cook a pork dinner, which Mullins said doesn’t usually break a profit, but it’s their way of thanking the community for their support.  

“We're thankful for everything that the community does for us. It helps us provide for our community,” Dandridge said. 

    Rusty Frame heads down the fighter department-themed inflatable at the St. Ignatius Firefighters Auxiliary picnic on Saturday, June 13. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 The 31st annual St. Ignatius Firefighters Auxiliary picnic helps raise funds for the fire department to help with unmet needs. Fundraising efforts include auctions, raffles and a pork dinner. (Emily Messer/Leader)