Fire Suppression

The Bozeman Fire Department responded to approximately 2685 emergency calls in 2008, 486 were classified as FIRE calls, 698 were service, or other emergency type calls. These calls ranged in severity from false alarms and dumpster fires to fully involved residential and commercial building fires. The Bozeman Fire Department staffs 2 frontline fire engines and relies on off-duty personnel to staff a reserve engine when on-duty resources are committed to emergency calls. We also participate in a progressive county-wide mutual aid program that brings important firefighting resources into the city when needed and sends city resources to county emergency scenes when requested.

NON-TRANSPORTING ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT

Fire Department ALS equipment includes defibrillator/monitors, I.V. administration kits, blood glucose monitors, medications, and intubation kits.

BIKE EMS TEAM

The Bozeman Fire Department staffs a Bike EMS Team for special events held in the City of Bozeman where it is difficult to respond with a fire engine.  The Bike EMS Team is staffed with 2 personnel, who are trained at the EMT level or higher.  The Bike EMS Team carries a wide range of medical equipment, to provide immediate life saving care.  We would like to thank OwenHouse Ace Hardware and the Lion's Club for providing us with our Bike EMS Team equipment.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE

The Bozeman Fire Department staffs one of six regional hazardous materials response teams. The City of Bozeman and Gallatin County have partnered since 1986 to provide regional and county-wide level A hazardous materials response. The City/County HazMat team is comprised of Bozeman Fire Department personnel who are specially trained at the OSHA Hazmat Technician level. Gallatin County helps support the City's efforts by annually contributing up to $6000 in 50/50 staffing and training reimbursement, $3200 in 50/50 equipment purchase and operating reimbursement and $1500 for 50/50 routine equipment repair and maintenance reimbursement. Montana Legistature also appropriates funding to the six regional teams annually.

VEHICLE EXTRICATION

The Bozeman Fire Department responds to motor vehicle crashes on a daily basis. Motor vehicle crashes can range in severity from minor fender benders to severe incidents involving multiple vehicles with entrapped patients. These calls sometimes require specialized equipment and techniques to remove entrapped patients from mangled automobiles. The Jaws of Life and other specialized tools are transported to incidents on both front line engines.

CONFINED SPACE/TRENCH RESCUE

Confined space rescue is a component of the Bozeman Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team. Confined space rescue includes any type of incident where a patient is entrapped in a situation presenting minimum clearances and/or hazardous atmospheres. If a patient can not be removed by conventional methods, confined space procedures are used. The high pace of construction in our area increases the likelihood of these types of calls occurring. Confined space emergencies range from trench collapses to maintenance workers in liquid storage vessels. OSHA closely regulates fire departments as they respond to these types of emergency incidents. We are currently upgrading our training and response capabilities in these areas by working with the Bozeman Water Department to staff and equip a City-wide trench collapse response capability.

HIGH AND LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE

Bozeman firefighters receive specialized training in the use of rescue ropes and technical rescue hardware. Low angle rescue is classified as any type of terrain that is too steep to walk up under one's own power. High angle rescue is an incident where the slope is greater than a 45 degree angle. While these incidents occur relatively infrequently, we live in an area that often requires rescuers to assist and remove patients from areas that are not easily accessible. Both frontline engines and our reserve engine are equipped to respond to these types of calls. Our current training plan calls for more comprehensive training in this area.

ICE RESCUE

Bozeman firefighters are trained to use specialized equipment and techniques to rescue victims involved in ice emergencies. Firefighters use specialized cold-water floatation suits and ropes to safely enter icy water and remove victims who have fallen through thin ice and are not able to self-rescue. This quick response capability is especially important as victims quickly succumb to the effects of cold water, and hypothermia quickly robs victims of their ability to stay afloat. Additionally, untrained would-be rescuers (firefighters, police officers and good Samaritans) often become victims themselves and add to the emergency rather than help in its resolution.