Uncategorized
Big Sky Fire Dept. attends annual firefighter testing consortium
Published
12 years agoon
Posted By
AdminBy Emily Stifler Explorebigsky.com Managing Editor
GREAT FALLS – Three representatives from the Big Sky Fire Dept. attended the annual Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium June 4-7, joining nine other fire departments from around the state at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.
More than 300 firefighters from across the country looking to work professionally in Montana took part in the comprehensive written and physical exams, and BSFD Chief Bill Farhat said he met job seekers from as far away as New York and California.
Although Big Sky Fire is not currently hiring, Farhat, firefighter Martha Fecht, and BSFD consultant Al Scholes all attended as part of an annual obligation.
Participating firefighters had to first pass the written exam by 70 percent or better to get a chance to take the physical exam. Of the more than 300 participants, 244 total passed the physical exam.
“It’s highly competitive,” said Michele Shea, an administrator for the consortium.
Because the exams are based on a national standard, Farhat said they allow the departments to find the best possible new employees. BSFD benefits from participating in the consortium, he said, because it would be very difficult for such a small department to properly hold a testing like that on its own.
“It eliminates a lot of work for us. When we’re ready to hire someone, we just go to that list of firefighters who have already been tested.”
At the consortium, Farhat helped with orientation, Fecht was a lead proctor, and Scholes helped equip participating firefighters.
“It gives us an idea who’s out there looking for a position, and it allows us to advertise how good of a department Big Sky is,” Farhat said.
BSFD has 10 paid firefighters, including Chief Farhat. Big Sky’s rural setting and lack of neighbors gives it a lot of challenges, he said.
“This is an important job, not something you do arbitrarily or on a whim. It requires a lot of responsibility and maturity and a certain aptitude. My job is to hire the very best people.”
Farhat, who has been with BSFD for 10 months, describes the department as professional, well trained and proficient.
“It’s a group of people who like coming to work and work hard for the community. It’s fun to be part of it.”
The ten departments involved in the consortium are Big Sky Fire Department, Billings Fire Department, Bozeman Fire Department, Butte Fire Department, Great Falls Fire/Rescue, Helena Fire Department, Lockwood Rural Fire District, Miles City Fire Department, Missoula Fire Department, and Missoula Rural Fire District.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716