Join a fire department

Hello my name is Pete, I am 53 years old, and like so many people in the Flathead Valley, I am a refugee. My wife and I first came here in 2008, on a whim to ski Whitefish. We took in the sights, made some friends and fell totally in love with the place. By 2009 the decision was made to flee well-paid , high stress jobs in Boston, ditch our home in New Hampshire, and fall off of the grid up the North Fork.

We arrived in June 2013 and settled in. By far the best move I have made toward becoming the man I want to be was joining the Blankenship Rural Fire District. Founded in 1983 by hardy locals concerned with each other’s welfare, the department has a long history of saving lives and property from the Canyon to Canada.

With only two years on the department I am just beginning to become a competent firefighter. Thankfully I brought medical skills with me as about 50 percent of our 30 or so calls a year are for medical assistance.

So far in 2015 I have come into direct contact with the Montana Highway Patrol, Border Patrol, the Park Service, ALERT, Three Rivers Ambulance and fellow firefighters from Martin City, Columbia Falls, Bad Rock and the Forest Service.

Connections I have made through the department include the guy who gave me my 8-year-old thoroughbred mare who also introduced me to the guy who plays guitar in the band I am now a member of; who is also a neighbor of the sweet lady who has taught me everything I know about horses and boards my girl at her ranch no charge; who is also a retired member of the department.

Ridiculous isn’t it? I haven’t even begun to mention the multiple positive department-related interactions I have had with my neighbors. In just about three years I have come face-to-face with about 20 percent of the people who live within a couple of miles of me.

When you show up to save lives or property people may not know your name but they definitely remember you.

So if “you ain’t from here,” and you are trying to fit in, I highly recommend you contact your local fire department immediately.

Local departments all over the valley are understaffed and growing older. Keep in mind that if nobody volunteers the vital services that we take for granted could someday disappear.

Training in both medical and firefighting skills is provided free of charge. Understand that the very nature of a volunteer department requires only that we members do the “best that you can” to attend training or emergencies.

If you are a native Montanan, then you already know the value of the services we provide.

Pete Clancy

Blankenship