Frenchtown Career Fire Fighters L4654

03/19/2026

🚒 10 Years of Service

Today we recognize FF/Paramedic Kirk Bartel for 10 years of service with our Local—but his time in the fire service goes back much further than that.

He got his start while still in high school, and it didn’t take long for people to notice the kind of firefighter he was. He earned a Volunteer Service Award in 1991 and was named Rookie of the Year in 1994 with the Ronan–Pablo Fire Department—early signs of a career defined by commitment.

He continued to raise the bar, earning his Paramedic in 2009 and Critical Care Paramedic in 2010, bringing a high level of skill and calm to the calls that matter most.

He joined Frenchtown Rural Fire District as a volunteer in 2014, and in 2016 earned his place as a career firefighter/paramedic.

Since then, he’s been the kind of firefighter you want next to you—steady, experienced, and someone who shows up ready to go, no matter the call.

This job takes time, sacrifice, and a willingness to keep showing up when it’s hard. Kirk has done that for decades—not just 10 years.

We’re proud to have him in our Local, and even more proud to call him one of our own.

Congratulations on 10 years at FRFD—and a lifetime of service.

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day ☘️

🍀 A little Irish luck never hurts.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the . 🚒

03/13/2026

Montana’s Mike McDaniel, a Captain with the Helena Fire Department (L448) for the past 20 years, lost his home in a devastating fire on March 12, 2026. Over the past year, Mike and his family have already faced significant challenges. He recently underwent a kidney transplant and is still recoveri...

02/12/2026

Mayor Butch Grenz proposal to "Defund the Fire Department"

On January 27, during a City Council meeting, newly re-elected Mayor Butch Grenz publicly raised a serious and unexpected proposal that would fundamentally change emergency services in Miles City.

Without a formal study, without community input, and without consultation with the professionals who currently provide these services, the mayor suggested:

🚨Eliminating the Miles City Fire Department
🚨Contracting fire protection to a neighboring volunteer department
🚨Privatizing Miles City’s public, not-for-profit ambulance service

This proposal was not listed on the meeting agenda that night. And while fire services are not listed on the agenda for the upcoming meeting either, it is important for the public to understand that major policy shifts have already been introduced without warning.

The Miles City City Council meets Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM, both in person and via Zoom.

CITY OF MILES CITY – Regular Council Meeting
📍 City Council Chambers
💻 Zoom: zoom.us
🆔 Meeting ID: 4062343462
🔑 Passcode: 59301

These are not small or administrative changes. Eliminating a staffed fire department and privatizing ambulance transport would have clear, real-world impacts on emergency response times, firefighter and patient safety, insurance rates, and outcomes during fires and medical emergencies.

Saving lives and protecting property is not a part-time job. It is not a for-profit business model. Emergency services are time-critical, labor-intensive, and highly technical. They require trained professionals, adequate staffing, and strong public oversight.

We encourage the community to stay informed, ask questions, and participate. We will continue to provide education about what these changes could mean for Miles City and why professional fire and EMS services are essential to public safety.

Thank you for your attention and engagement.

09/11/2025

On this solemn day, we remember the 2,977 lives lost and pay tribute to the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. Their bravery, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to duty will forever stand as a testament to the strength of the fire service.

We also honor the families, friends, and loved ones whose lives were forever changed that day. Their resilience and strength remind us of the lasting impact of sacrifice and service.

As members of Frenchtown Career Firefighters Local 4654, we carry forward this legacy of courage, compassion, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood in our own service to the community.

We will never forget.

#343

08/04/2025

Let's keep the members of Anaconda Professional Firefighters Local 100 in our thoughts as they have dealt with a scene of violence, with 4 people killed in a bar shooting in their area. This is a small department filled with heart. Lets remember the victims, and lets remember the firefighters and police, as well as their families, who work to keep the people of Anaconda, Montana safe.

The suspect remains on the loose. Please go to the comments for more info from NBC Montana.

07/10/2025

Firefighters from across the region are arriving to honor the lives of our fallen brothers.

We honor:

Battalion Chief John Morrison
End of Watch: June 29, 2025

Battalion Chief Frank Harwood
End of Watch: June 29, 2025

We don’t forget.
We stand together.
We carry them forward.

07/08/2025

Great work by the On-duty shift and everyone who helped out!

06/30/2025

We are praying for our brothers and sisters over at Local 710 and Local 2856.

06/18/2025

PTSD is real — and SB 394 was a clean, bipartisan bill to protect the first responders who deal with trauma every single shift.

Firefighters. Paramedics. Law enforcement officers. They see the unseeable and carry it with them so others don’t have to.

SB 394 passed the Montana Legislature with strong support. But Governor Gianforte vetoed it.

He says he stands with first responders. But when it mattered most — he didn’t.

Read the bill for yourself:
[https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/bills/sb-394/](https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/bills/sb-394/)

06/17/2025

We're Hiring: Fire Chief 🚒

📍 Location: Frenchtown, Montana

Are you a dedicated and experienced leader in the fire service field? We are seeking a passionate and skilled Fire Chief to join our team and lead our department with excellence, courage, and commitment to community safety.

🔹 Why Join Us?
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunities for professional growth and development
Make a meaningful impact in your community

Interested? Apply today and become part of a team that values integrity, service, and leadership!

💬 For more details and to apply, click here:https://www.frenchtownfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fire-Chief-Hiring-Packet-June-2025-approved-by-Board.pdf
📅 Deadline to apply: June 24, 2025, by 5:00PM MDT