New Big Sky Fire Department facility to bring training to a ‘new level’

All-steel structure will simulate real-life fire situations for firefighters, no longer needing to drive to Belgrade for similar training

By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER 

The Big Sky Fire Department is only three or four weeks away from opening its new training facility beside Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail). Drivers passing the Powder Light apartments on their way in and out of Big Sky will see a house-like structure across the street, and in some ways it’s meant to be built with that appearance. 

“This is a realistic three-story house structure [where] we can actually do live fire,” Deputy Fire Chief Seth Barker said. “The way it’s going to benefit Big Sky Fire is it’s a one stop shop for everything that we do in our district.” The Big Sky Resort Area District funded 75% of the building and the fire department covered the remaining 25%. In total, the building cost $520,000. 

“This will truly be the best training facility in [Gallatin] county after we’re done,” Barker said. 

Previously, the fire department traveled to Belgrade’s Central Valley Fire District to conduct live fire training. This meant that new recruits for the fire academy would spend 10 weeks training in Belgrade, which Barker described as costly. “We can actually train while we’re working.”

The structure is built of steel, so it can be burned many times. “When we open the windows you’ll actually be able to see fire coming out too,” Barker said. Burning will happen about five to 6 times a year, and the county dispatch 911 will be informed when the drills are happening and appear on the BSFD Facebook page. 

The fire department will use theatrical smoke more often to simulate low- visibility conditions. Theatrical smoke is a soy-bean based product that poses no harm to humans or wildlife.

‘A new level’ 

Training Captain Cory Phillips explained that the facility will bring training to a new level for Big Sky, from practicing roof operations to the most advanced procedures for survival and safety. Several features can simulate a live emergency scene. 

“This is a building that has interior modular walls that can be moved around,” Phillips said. “And then they have to truly go in and execute all the stuff and map the building in their head as they go in, even though they don’t have visibility.” 

Phillips tried to create that experience in the station previously, but employees already knew the layout of spaces during training. “Here we can vary that, and create a dynamic environment where they actually have to be thinking on their feet.” 

A 22-year effort

The idea for a new training facility began 22 years ago. In the meantime, the department has gotten creative in how to build realistic scenarios. Jeff Bolton, battalion chief on the department’s A shift explained that the department would use employee housing, with the help of Big Sky Resort, and parking lots for practice. “We [would] build these props, and we’d do it in a garage, essentially, in the base,” Bolton said. “There’s no way to replicate something going on inside of a building without doing it inside of the building.” 

The new training facility has realistic design features like attic spaces, which Barker says are common sports for fires in homes. On those attic spaces are ventilation windows for firefighters to practice cutting into the roof so that the team can assess the fire’s source, progression and prevent dangerous backflashes and flashovers. 

On the roof, Phillips and Barker installed two types of roofing common in Big Sky builds so firefighters are prepared for different scenarios.

Barker hopes to do a ribbon-cutting alongside BSRAD in April to celebrate a new chapter for the fire department.