Fire chief reflects on ‘phenomenal’ team after tough months of department news
By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
Big Sky Fire Department Chief Dustin Tetrault sees transparency with the community and taxpayers as no less than essential.
“It’s the highest level of integrity that this organization has,” Tetrault said. So there was no question about sharing the news with the public when the department learned about a major Gallatin County tax miscalculation and the results of a misconduct investigation. Tetrault noted his team’s readiness to reorganize and work together was key to managing a tumultuous fall.
First, a Sept. 25 announcement informed BSFD taxpayers in Gallatin County that they were over levied by $8.5 million, a result of Gallatin County miscalculating mills over the course of four years.
“So effectively, in one phone call we lost $2.7 million of tax revenues,” Tetrault told EBS. That means that about 90% of taxpayer revenue this year is devoted solely to paying staff, according to Tetrault. The fire department quickly informed staff that no one would be laid off. Instead, budgets for projects and maintenance will be reduced and cut.
On the list of cut plans: concrete repairs in Fire Station 2 next to Big Sky Resort, the hiring of four staff members at the new, third fire station, water and sewer installation at the training grounds, and future infrastructure planning, equipment planning and snow removal contracting. One of the snow removal contractors, Big Sky Snowman, donated their services for the upcoming year to help out, according to Tetrault. The fire department and county officials expect to hold a Q&A session in January 2026 to answer further questions, in time for residents to take a look at tax statements that could show a 40-60% reduction in BSFD taxes.
Two BSFD plans will progress, which were formerly meant to be covered in the general budget. The first is to pay for two new engines for Station 3. The station itself is funded through a Rural Improvement District, and the fire department paid a large sum upfront for the engines two years ago with ongoing payments until the engines arrive this year. Limited cash will also be used to buy land next to the training facility, another purchase that was already in the works.
Both of these expenses will be covered by reserve funds, using more than half of the $4 million in reserves, which was originally intended to cover a future public safety headquarters.
To free up further dollars, Tetrault and the fire department leadership team volunteered to take a 5% salary reduction, doing away with a raise they received in July this year. Staff not in leadership positions will continue to receive the same salaries.
Less than two months after the budget news, the fire department shared in a press release that an investigation found that a former deputy chief, Seth Barker, had been charged with felony theft of $79,000 and “official misconduct.” BSFD ordered the internal investigation following department audit results indicating stolen funds. The final investigative report took over a year to complete, combined with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office’s own investigation, and results came out in late October 2025.
Tetrault described the toll of learning and sharing this information with the public, especially after the hit of Gallatin County’s tax miscalculation.
“It’s super, super difficult,” Tetrault said. “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my career.”
Barker attended his initial court hearing on Dec. 15 and following hearings are scheduled for October and November 2026.
Amid those challenges, the fire department worked to serve the community. A recent 2024 annual report revealed statistics to prove it—the department conducted 7,438 hours of training, completed 423 plan reviews and inspections, and responded to 1,431 emergencies. Calls for services only seem to be increasing, as BSFD responded to 13% more emergencies in 2024 compared to 2023, and 56% more emergencies than in 2019.
In addition to working in Big Sky and the region, BSFD began the year by sending staff to assist in the historic Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. Any time the fire department assists other states in wildfire mitigation, they are reimbursed for their time. Outside of providing necessary assistance, it’s also an opportunity for fire departments to both earn revenue and training. Locally, this summer saw an increased demand in wildfire response—a 10-person hand crew is on call to respond to wildfire incidents, with the help of Yellowstone Mountain Club Rural Fire District.
“I think we’re gonna continue to see ignitions climbing around our area here,” Tetrault said. “And we’ve seen that trend for a while and that’s really what’s pushed us to staff up and to get our seasonal wildfire program up and running.”
Despite a bumpy year, and more work ahead to smooth out the department’s challenging budget deficit, Tetrault remembers a highlight: celebrating employees at the inaugural employee recognition ceremony last May. The practice of uplifting internal success and looking inward for solutions of budget shortfalls will be a theme in the upcoming year, he explained. He credited his team for getting through a challenging 2025.
“That’s what really makes my job easy and what’s really helped me weather the storm of all of the negative things that have come out, is the fact we’ve got a phenomenal group of people that work here,” Tetrault said. “I would argue that we’re one of the best, if not the best fire department in the state and in the country for that matter.”
