BLRFD plans new station
<p>Bull Lake Rural Fire District Board Chairwoman Sylvia Maffit shares a moment with Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe on Thursday during a ceremony that announced the fire district’s plans to build a new station. Also pictured are Treasurer Gerald Wallace, Past Chief and current Board Member Mike Casey and current Chief Clyde Miller.</p>
<p>Miller points across Highway 56 to the location for the planned station.</p>
Bull Lake Rural Fire District is planning a new fire station just a stone’s throw across Highway 56 from the district’s old fire station.
Fire Chief Clyde Miller read the announcement from a prepared release as board members, residents and Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe looked on Wednesday from Station No. 1 on Angel Island Road.
“We’re looking toward the future,” Miller said as he read a litany of achievements and equipment purchases since becoming a fire district in 1989.
The underlying issue is a lawsuit filed by BLRFD against Lincoln County, Troy Dispatch, Troy and Libby ambulance services and Bowe, who is the county’s top public safety officer.
“Our beef is not with (Bowe). It’s with Troy Dispatch,” said Treasurer Gerald Wallace.
Miller said the fire district has a mandate to serve the people in its jurisdiction and said they will continue to dispatch, the item of contention.
Asked about that, Bowe said he is disappointed in that decision but remained optimistic that dialogue can be achieved to end the impasse.
“It means we’ll have to get the lawyers together, but it’s possible. I’m disappointed they won’t take the decision that was rendered. It seems they’re going to keep at it until they get the answer they want,” Bowe said.
Miller confided the fire board is committed to take the issue to the Montana Supreme Court.
“We don’t have any issues with any of these (other) agencies. This is about serving those people who pay taxes,” Miller said.
Still, this day was about the planned station, which could be about 8,000 square feet on two of the 28 acres that has been assigned for the new station.
The current station is much smaller and, because of a high water table, it’s not feasible for plumbing, at least not without much expense.
Board members estimated the new station will cost about $350,000.
“We’re just getting under way,” said Wallace.
Miller said the agency, which once included just Chief Casey, now numbers 18 firefighters. A date for a groundbreaking has not been set.