The Bigfork Fire Department was established on August 18, 1941 by a handful of 24 volunteers. Bigfork Fire Department serves a small rural community of 3000 people, 45 miles south of Glacier National Park, along the shores of Flathead Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi river.
In the early 1970's, a local dentist by the name of Doug Smith began responding to local medical emergencies with Bigfork Fire Department. He organized local community CPR classes beginning in 1974, and followed with advanced first aid classed in 1976. Several Fire Department members and community members enrolled. He is with Bigfork Ambulance to this day.
