After outgrowing its space, the Rollins Volunteer Fire Department sought support from the community and raised $2.2 million to fund necessary upgrades and a station addition. 

The previous station was a narrow, 6,000-square-foot, six-bay structure with a small training area and no room to work on engines. The station continued to grow in this space, but as it acquired more equipment, some engines had to be stored at volunteers' houses, creating a logistical hassle for five years. 

Fire Chief Carey Cooley said the department has seen significant growth in both volunteer numbers and call volume. The department was founded in 1962 by three couples who pooled their money together and purchased a used fire engine, the department now serves a growing population and has more than 20 volunteers. 

Cooley has been part of the department since 1992, has watched her dad serve as the Rollins chief, and said department operations have completely shifted from how they did it back then. Fire departments like Rollins used to respond only to house or car fires, but now it's evolved into rescues and medical calls. 

Overall, calls have increased, with the department responding to 56 in 2023 and projected to respond to more than 100 this year. Cooley added that traffic accidents have now become the department's most common call.

The Rollins department covers the West Shore of Flathead Lake and, over the past several years, has annexed more of the wildland-urban interface. 

Officer and Treasurer Greg LeFevre explained during the firehouse dedication on Saturday, Oct. 17, that it became clear many years ago that the department had outgrown its space, prompting the formation of a building committee to find a solution. 

He said the initial estimates were $3 million, a “daunting number,” until they met with local builder Roger Porch, who said he could do it for $2 million. Porch took a different approach than other builders, one that let them complete it in phases. 

Cooley explained that fundraising efforts began with the Rollins Fire Foundation, a non-profit associated with the department that raises funds for equipment and long-term improvements. The efforts kicked off in the spring of 2024 with a pancake feed and annual letters sent to all residents in the department's coverage area. 

By spring 2025, they had enough to break ground on the new addition. They continued fundraising and, by January of this year, had enough to start remodeling the existing building. 

In total, the foundation received 136 donations from community members, and three of those donations covered about half the project. 

“No bonds, no loans, no grants,” Cooley said. “It was just all the community doing it, and we are so thankful.” 

The project revamp included more than doubling the square footage by building a very large garage, remodeling the training area, adding bathrooms and building a kitchen. Cooley said they also designed part of the building to be separate from fire equipment so it can also be used as a community center. 

After completing the kitchen, the department also purchased an extractor for cleaning turnout gear. Cooley explained that this is an important tool that protects volunteers from hazardous materials or chemicals on their turnout gear. Previously, volunteers had to travel to Polson or Somers to borrow an extractor. 

Cooley explained that the Elmo Fire of 2022 also significantly impacted the area, causing many residents to lose home insurance because they live in a wildland-urban interface. 

This prompted the department to assess its ISO Rating and set goals to improve it. Cooley explained that the three goals include increasing training, acquiring another vehicle to increase water capacity and hiring a full-time administrator. 

To achieve this, the department is requesting a mill levy on this November’s ballot because its annual budget isn’t sufficient to cover large capital expenses. Cooley said the annual budget is $80,000, $20,000 of which goes directly to insurance. 

She explained that operating costs, such as gas and maintenance, take a chunk, and if a truck goes down, that’s another $30,000 bill. In total, the department maintains nine apparatuses. 

Currently, Cooley said the budget is not sustainable, and this levy will give the department a reserve to lean on, more training for volunteers and personal protective equipment. 

“Our main goal is to make it so that we can protect them,” she said. “Obviously, we can’t save everything, but we want to be in a position where we can do the very best for the most people.” 

The proposed levy increase is $91,000 annually, which breaks down to $60,000 for a full-time chief, $20,000 for a vehicle and equipment reserve and $11,000 for operations, PPE, and training. 

For a market-value home at $100,000, the levy would cost $11.96 per year; for $300,000, $35.88 per year; and for a $600,000 market-value home, $85.92 per year. 

That more than doubles the department's annual PPE budget, adds nearly $5,000 to its training and volunteer support funds, creates an annual $20,000 vehicle and equipment reserve and creates a full-time chief position. 

    Linda Gore, mother of current Rollins Fire Chief Carey Cooley and wife of former Fire Chief Terry Gore, explains the fire department's history and the broad community support it has received over the years. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Terry Gore, the former fire chief and father of current Fire Chief Carey Cooley, cut the ceremonial ribbon to commemorate the opening of the new firehouse. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 The Alert helicopter lands at the new helicopter pad at the Rollins Fire Department during the open house on Saturday, Oct. 17. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 To kick off the building dedication, the Kalispell American Legion Chapter presents the colors. (Emily Messer/Leader)