Ravalli County Fire
Council

Letter from our Fire Chief

The Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) has been in existence since 1896. We speak of the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department as a single entity, but in reality it is a combination of two entities working together to bring the best in fire fighting abilities and resources to the residents of Hamilton and the surrounding area. The two entities consist of the City of Hamilton Fire Department and the Hamilton Rural Fire District (HRFD), with the Hamilton Rural Fire District contracting for firefighting services with the City of Hamilton. The HVFD is governed by the City Council of Hamilton, while the HRFD is governed by an elected Board of Trustees consisting of 5 members. The members of the volunteer force and elected Officials are strong organizationally and work diligently to maintain a good working relationship between the two organizations for the betterment of firefighting services for the residents of Hamilton and surrounding area.

     The Hamilton Fire Department services an area of approximately 110 square miles with boundaries of Blodgett Creek to the North, Lost Horse Creek to the South, and the Forest Services boundaries to the East and West. Currently, Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department services a population base of over 15,000 residents out of two fire stations: Station #1, the main fire station, located at 175 South 3rd street in downtown Hamilton and Station #2, the Charlos Heights station, located South of Hamilton.

     The core of any volunteer organization is only as good as the volunteers associated with the organization. From the elected Officials of the Hamilton Rural Fire District to the firefighters themselves, all members work for the residents of the Hamilton Community on a volunteer basis. The volunteer firefighters will consistently answer 200 to 250 emergency calls per year accumulating over 350 hours individually, between fire calls and training. Truly a love for the job, to give up so much personally for the community in which they serve.

     Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department has, since it’s inception, maintained a single engine company consisting of 28 members. Only recently has the Department made the decision to expand it’s membership allowing it to grow, over time, in numbers of firefighters, to stay consistent with the expansion of the population base in Hamilton and Ravalli County, one or the fastest growing Counties in the State of Montana. In addition, the continued growth of the area surrounding the City of Hamilton will, over a ten year period, add two more fire stations to the Hamilton Rural Fire District to help serve the residents and maintain the professionalism which the people of the District have come to expect. Other long-term plans for the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department consist of a 20 year equipment purchase plan, again, to give insight into the needs of the Department well into the future.

     It is without question, the strength of the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department comes from the volunteers themselves. It is the dedication of countless hours that allows the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department to maintain the highest level of professionalism. It is organizationally and financially critical to keep the HVFD and the HRFD together; two entities working together as one, towards the common goal of maintaining the highest level of fire protection for the community. And last, but surely not least, to have the support of the residents Hamilton and the surrounding Community is what gives all those associated with Hamilton Fire the inspiration to go forward and do what we love to do, for the residents of this area.