Arlee Volunteer Fire Department

05/29/2026

Hey Arlee, we are looking for donation items for our July 4th silent auction. Please message us or call/text the numbers on the flyer.

Thanks to all the past donors who have helped make every year a success. 🚒

03/16/2026

03/11/2026

PUBLIC INFORMATION RELEASE
Arlee Fire & Ambulance
Vehicle Crash – Schall Flats
March 9, 2026
Arlee Fire & Ambulance responded to a report of a head‑on vehicle collision on Schall Flats at 2138 hours on March 9, 2026. Upon arrival, responders found significant debris and one injured occupant. The patient was transported to a Missoula hospital by Arlee’s second ambulance.
Arlee’s primary ambulance was already committed to a separate medical call at 2058 hours and was transporting to Missoula when the crash occurred. After clearing that call, the primary ambulance returned to the crash scene to provide additional medical support as needed.
Response Timeline
(All times based on Lake County 911 dispatch records)
• 2138 hr – General page for Arlee Fire & Ambulance
• 2145 hr – Rescue unit en route (7 minutes from page)
• 2150 hr – Rescue unit on scene
• 2152 hr – Engine en route (14 minutes from page)
• 2157 hr – Engine on scene
• 2159 hr – Ambulance on-scene
• 2215 hr – Ambulance to hospital with 1 patient.
• 2358–0003 hr – Units cleared the scene after debris removal and agency coordination

The Rescue unit remained on scene for 2 hours and 13 minutes due to debris cleanup and hazard mitigation. Fire and Rescue remained on scene for about 2 hours.
Agencies Involved
• Montana Highway Patrol
• Lake County Sheriff’s Office
• CSKT Tribal Police
• Arlee Fire & Rescue
• Arlee Ambulance

Arlee Fire & Ambulance appreciates the coordinated response from all partner agencies and the patience of community members affected by temporary traffic delays during the incident.

Our department extends heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family during this difficult time.

03/04/2026

Register at redcrossblood.org and enter Arlee to schedule an appointment.

03/04/2026

Incident Summary: Vehicle in Jocko River – March 2, 2026

Incident Overview

At 10:40 PM on March 2, 2026, Arlee Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to a report of a vehicle in the Jocko River with one occupant on the shoreline calling for help. Initial information did not confirm whether additional occupants were missing, prompting both rescue and search operations.

Actions Taken

-- Arlee Fire and Ambulance arrived on scene and made contact with the individual on the shoreline.

--The patient was safely extricated, assessed, and transported by ambulance to a Missoula hospital for further care.

--Because it was unknown whether others were in or around the vehicle, responders initiated a coordinated search:

--Ground search teams conducted a sweep along the riverbanks and surrounding terrain.

--An aerial search using an infrared-equipped drone was deployed to check the river corridor and adjacent areas for heat signatures or additional victims.

Agencies Involved
· Arlee Fire Department
· Arlee Ambulance
· Lake County Sheriff’s Office
· Montana Highway Patrol
· CSKT Tribal Police
· Lake County Office of Emergency Management
· Lake County 911 Center
· Polson Rural Fire Department
· Montana Towing BNSF and Nicole Carney

Operational Notes

· Multi-agency coordination allowed simultaneous medical care, scene stabilization, and search operations.

· Use of infrared drone assets expanded search coverage in low-visibility nighttime conditions.

· No additional victims were located during the search.

Arlee Fire and Ambulance is grateful and thanks all agencies that responded quickly to assist us.

02/25/2026

February 2026 Training

Introduction to the Confidence Course
One of the most dangerous situations for firefighters is being inside a structure when a collapse occurs. The failure doesn’t have to involve the entire building to compromise safety; a ceiling, a wall, or even a small section of roof is enough to trap, injure, or disorient responders. Each type of collapse presents its own threats—from the sheer weight of construction materials bearing down on us to the sudden creation of a maze of debris that restricts movement and complicates escape.
A collapse instantly transforms the environment. Visibility may drop to zero. Familiar pathways disappear. What was once a coordinated interior attack becomes a fight for survival. Firefighters must remain mentally sharp, working through how to extricate themselves while managing the psychological stressors that come with confinement, isolation, and uncertainty. The possibility of being alone, injured, or cut off from the crew adds another layer of urgency.
The bottom line is that situational awareness and cognitive discipline are as critical as physical strength. Recognizing collapse indicators, maintaining orientation, and controlling the mind under pressure are crucial to surviving these events and ensuring the mission can continue.
One way we prepare firefighters for the challenges of structural collapse and restricted‑movement environments is through a Confidence Course. This course places firefighters in a series of confined, obstructed, or disorienting spaces designed to replicate the physical and mental obstacles they may face during an entrapment. Among these stations, the Entanglement Box consistently proves to be one of the most perplexing and revealing.
The Entanglement Box simulates the maze of wires, cables, and miscellaneous hazards commonly found in attics, basements, and commercial spaces. Firefighters must work methodically to free themselves without creating additional entrapment or compromising their equipment. The station is taught with an emphasis on technique, calm decision‑making, and maintaining control of one’s body position.
To build both skill and confidence, firefighters experience the station in progressive layers of difficulty:
• Without PPE: to learn the mechanics of movement and understand how entanglement occurs.
• With turnouts: adding bulk, heat, and restricted mobility.
• With SCBA: introducing the most common snag point and forcing deliberate body positioning.
• With full PPE and blacked‑out vision: replicating the sensory deprivation and stress of a real‑world entrapment.
Each step adds complexity, reinforcing the importance of staying calm, protecting the SCBA, and using practiced techniques to methodically work free. By the final evolution, firefighters are relying on touch, memory, and discipline—exactly the skills needed when the environment turns hostile, and visibility disappears.

01/24/2026

January Training Arlee Fire – Forced Entry

Arlee Fire’s January training focused on forced entry techniques, a critical skill set for gaining rapid access during emergencies when doors or other entry points are locked, and no key is available. The session was held in Arlee and delivered by the Montana Fire Services Training School, led by regional trainer Rick Paulson.

Forced entry is employed in a wide range of incidents, including structure fires, medical emergencies, and situations where immediate access is necessary to protect life or property. The training emphasized tool selection, size‑up, minimizing damage when possible, and maintaining firefighter safety during entry operations.

During the hands-on portion of the training, firefighters worked in pairs to practice breaching both left-hand and right-hand opening doors. After each attempt, partners switched positions to ensure everyone gained experience as both the lead and the support firefighter. Effective forced entry requires a combination of physical strength, an understanding of fire behavior, coordinated teamwork, and the ability to act quickly—skills that directly influence life‑safety outcomes.

Forced entry is, by nature, a destructive operation. Even when performed with precision, the doorjamb, locking mechanisms, and sometimes the door itself will sustain damage. The purpose, however, is clear: gain access rapidly, reach the problem at its source, and prevent further spread or escalation. These objectives guide every action taken during a forced entry evolution.

01/21/2026

Save the Date! Annual Jocko Valley Buttercup Run.