Uncategorized
Structure fire illuminates difficulty of emergency response in Big Sky
Published
10 years agoon
By Emily Wolfe Explore Big Sky Managing Editor
BIG SKY – Just after 11 a.m. on Feb. 19, the Big Sky Fire Department received a report of a structure fire at 545 Grouse Ridge Road, a private home atop a hill south of Ophir School.
The homeowners are new residents to the area, according to Fire Chief Bill Farhat, who spoke to Explore Big Sky from the scene as his crew was putting out the final hot spots. The house was a total loss, he said, but no one was injured.
An investigation by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Big Sky Fire revealed that an occupant of the home was spray painting a vehicle in the garage in the presence of a ceramic heater. When the occupant attempted to refill the paint canister, the heater ignited the fumes. The occupant attempted to put out the fire before calling 911, delaying the dispatch of firefighters to the incident and allowing the fire to grow.
When the engines from Big Sky Fire responded, at first they struggled to get up the steep, snow drifted road. The first engine had to back up the final hill, Farhat said, and by the time it arrived, the fire had spread from the garage to the house, with smoke showing from the second story eaves.
The second engine got stuck in a deep snowdrift, blocking access to the road for other vehicles and water trucks, said Farhat, who ran from that truck up to the scene. The house did not have automatic fire sprinklers or an auxiliary water supply, and the firefighters mounted an attack as best they could, with what water they had.
Other agencies sent mutual aid assistance, including the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department, Yellowstone Club Fire Department, Hebgen Basin F.D., Gallatin Gateway F.D., Rae-Sourdough F.D., Central Valley F.D., Manhattan F.D., Bozeman F.D., and Fort Ellis F.D.
Farhat estimated 40 firefighters helped with the incident altogether. At its height, 13 or 14 people were fighting the fire, he said, and the rest were shuttling water up to the scene.
“That was actually the hardest part,” Farhat said, explaining that they actually had to back each truck up the narrow road, because it was too steep to drive up otherwise.
The situation shed light on one of the area’s most serious issues, Farhat said.
Because it is almost entirely privately owned, Big Sky lacks coordinated resources to draw from. The only public roads here are Lone Mountain Trail and Ousels Falls Road. The rest are private, and are maintained and plowed through private contracts.
“There are over 100 homeowners associations, and I wouldn’t know who to get a hold of for that,” Farhat said. So he called the man he knew could help, Jeremy Clack. Clack does contract plowing for the fire department, and he helped clear the road that day.
“We have an emergency of some sort, and we just rely on personal relationships and the kindness of people to help,” Farhat said. “It’s not a city, so we have no one to turn to for assistance, no public works department. We have to be flexible and use our heads and think out of the box.”
Although the house was lost, he commended his team’s work under what he called “trying circumstances.”
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
march, 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
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
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
29mar3:00 pm4:00 pmGood Friday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event City:Big Sky
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Friday) 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm