McCALL, Idaho – Idaho’s Brundage Ski Resort has established its own fire department in addition to its already existing EMS services. The new Brundage Mountain Fire Protection Association began providing services as of Sunday, September 1, after hiring a fire chief in the spring and recruiting 14 volunteer trainees.
The fire truck and other equipment is currently being housed in and around existing buildings at the independently owned ski resort, but construction on a dedicated Fire Station is set to begin this fall. The station will eventually hold equipment and provide training space, while serving as the fire department’s operational hub.
“The newly trained Brundage firefighters will have a larger and more accessible water supply at their disposal. A new 435,000-gallon water tank is scheduled to be online this fall. It has a 180,000-gallon fire suppression reservoir. The tank is part of a system that includes a hydrant beside each new building in the ski resort’s base area.” – Brundage Mountain
The Brundage Mountain EMS (BMEMS) has also applied for state licensing to become a transport EMS agency and purchased an ambulance, with the hope of offering transport EMS services by the beginning of the 2024-25 ski season. The Brundage Mountain Patrol earned EMS status back in 2021, but only as a non-transport EMS agency. The ambulance would allow for much faster response times and transport to emergency rooms for patients.
“When it comes to the safety and health of our team and our guests, we’re not willing to take any chances. Creating and enhancing our own independent agencies means we can relieve some stress from the EMS and emergency systems in Meadows Valley and Valley County while ensuring we have exceptional emergency response coverage at Brundage Mountain.” – Brundage Mountain General Manager Ken Rider
