Big Sky Fire Department
Big Sky Fire Department is a publicly funded all-hazards fire district serving an 80-square-mile mountain-resort service area in Gallatin and Madison Counties, Montana, providing structural and wildland fire suppression, advanced life support EMS, inspections, and community risk reduction across three 24/7 stations.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersBig Sky, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Sky Fire Department does
Big Sky Fire Department (BSFD) is a publicly funded, all-hazards emergency-response agency operating as a special-purpose fire district across an 80-square-mile service area in the unincorporated mountain-resort community of Big Sky, spanning Gallatin County and Madison County in south-central Montana. Formed in 1971 and officially established as a fire district in 1979, BSFD delivers structural fire suppression, wildland fire response, advanced life support (ALS) ambulance services, hazardous-materials mitigation, motor-vehicle accident response, and rescue operations to roughly 1,440 calls per year, approximately 80% of which are medical emergencies. The department is staffed by 33 career Firefighter/Paramedics (all NREMT-certified with State of Montana pre-hospital credentials and ACLS/PALS maintenance) supported by a 6-10 person seasonal Fuels Crew during the May-October wildfire season, organized across three 24/7/365 stations: Station 1 (Meadow) in Gallatin County, Station 2 (Mountain) in Madison County, and Station 3 (Spanish Peaks), with ISO Class 4/4X Public Protection Classification.
BSFD's service portfolio extends beyond incident response into a structured Community Risk Reduction (CRR) program built on the Vision 20/20 framework, encompassing fire and life safety inspections for commercial properties, plan reviews through third-party Fire Safety Consultants Inc., short-term rental (STR) inspections with 2-year operational permits, KnoxBox rapid-entry system deployment, open-burning permits, wildfire-home risk assessments via the ArcGIS-hosted Big Sky Wildfire Hub, and public-education programming (Fire Prevention Week school presentations, station tours, CPR and AED training). Primary revenue streams consist of property-tax levies from in-district parcels in Gallatin and Madison Counties, ambulance transport and EMS billing administered by Pintler Billing Services, and permit/inspection fees set per a published schedule (with a 2026 fee/permit resolution referenced). Operational technology includes three ALS ambulances available at peak, ALS-capable paramedic training (IV insertion, intraosseous access, drug administration, 12-lead EKG monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, endotracheal intubation), GIS-based dispatch and inspection tooling, and mutual-aid integration with Custer Gallatin National Forest, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bozeman Fire Department's HazMat team, Gallatin Gateway and Hebgen Basin fire departments, Yellowstone National Park, and both counties' sheriff and emergency-management offices. The department is governed by a Board of Trustees and currently led by Interim Fire Chief Jeff Bolton (also Division Chief of Operations), with Chief Administrative Officer Alecia Fischer managing administration since 2009.
Big Sky Fire Department firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Sky Fire Department
- Legal name
- Big Sky Fire Department
- Website
- https://bigskyfire.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Big Sky Fire Department is a publicly funded all-hazards fire district serving an 80-square-mile mountain-resort service area in Gallatin and Madison Counties, Montana, providing structural and wildland fire suppression, advanced life support EMS, inspections, and community risk reduction across three 24/7 stations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Sky Fire Department industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Safety / Fire and Emergency Services
- NAICS
- Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Hazardous Waste Management (4955)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning (AFAMAAAF), Fire Detection & Early Warning (Lookouts, Sensors, Aerial Patrol) (AFAMAEAG), Forest Fire Management & Fuels Reduction Services (IMAMAAAH)
Keywords
Where Big Sky Fire Department is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Big Sky
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Big Sky Fire Department business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source from property taxes collected from properties within the fire district boundaries in Gallatin County and Madison County, Montana. Only properties paying BSFD property taxes are considered in-district and receive fire protection services.
- Ambulance Billing Services: Revenue from emergency medical services billing administered through Pintler Billing Services for ambulance transport and medical services rendered.
- Permit and Inspection Fees: Fees collected for operational permits, plan reviews, fire and life safety inspections, short-term rental permits, and development reviews. Fee schedule available in published permit resolution documents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Short-Term Rental Fire & Life Safety Inspection Permit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plan Review and Inspection Fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Big Sky Fire Department product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Sky Fire Department is a publicly funded all-hazards emergency response agency providing structural and wildland fire suppression, advanced life support ambulance services, rescue and hazardous materials response, and community risk reduction to an 80-square-mile fire district in Gallatin and Madison Counties, Montana. The department also delivers fire and life safety inspections, plan reviews, short-term rental operational permits, open burning permits, and wildfire preparedness programs to property owners and businesses within its jurisdiction.
Product overview
Big Sky Fire Department (BSFD) is an all-hazards emergency response agency providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, and community risk reduction programs to an 80-square-mile fire district in Gallatin County and Madison County, Montana. The department operates three stations staffed 24/7 by career Firefighter/Paramedics. BSFD's core service portfolio includes Fire Suppression (structural and wildland fire response), Emergency Medical Services (up to three advanced life support ambulances), Wildland Fire Preparedness (including homeowner risk assessments and seasonal mitigation crews), Fire Safety Education (school programs, station tours, public speaking), Building Development & Fire Inspections (plan reviews, acceptance testing, annual compliance), Short-Term Rental Inspections, KnoxBox Rapid Entry System for emergency access, Open Burning Permits, Insurance Classification Services, and a comprehensive Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Program. The department integrates with third-party platforms for ambulance billing (Pintler Billing Services), inspection reporting (InspectionReportsOnline.net), plan reviews (Fire Safety Consultants, Inc), and scheduling/submissions (Survey123 ArcGIS).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fire Suppression Services
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Wildland Fire Preparedness Program
- Fire Safety Education Programs
- Building Development and Fire Inspections
- Short-Term Rental Fire and Life Safety Inspections
- KnoxBox Rapid Entry System Installation
- Open Burning Permits
- Insurance Classification Services
- Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Program
- Motor Vehicle Accident Response
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately 1,440 calls for service annually with 80% being medical emergencies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Sky Fire Department
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Big Sky Fire Department technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
Big Sky Fire Department partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Custer Gallatin National ForestcorePrimary federal partner for wildfire management. BSFD works with Custer Gallatin National Forest fire management officers for initial attack and suppression of wildland fires. Part of comprehensive mutual aid network covering the over 200 square mile response area.
- Beaverhead-Deerlodge National ForestcoreFederal forest service partner for wildfire management and initial attack operations. Assists with large wildfire events beyond BSFD's initial attack capabilities.
- Bozeman Fire DepartmentcoreMutual aid partner and provider of Hazardous Materials Team response. BSFD works with Bozeman Fire Department's HazMat team for significant hazardous materials incidents including propane leaks and chemical releases.
- Gallatin County Sheriff's OfficecoreLaw enforcement partner for emergency response coordination. Gallatin County 911 (406-582-2100) receives alarm monitoring company calls and dispatches BSFD for emergency responses.
- Madison County Sheriff's OfficecoreLaw enforcement partner for emergency response coordination in Madison County portions of the fire district, including Station 2 service area.
- Gallatin County Emergency ManagementcoreCounty emergency management partner for disaster coordination, emergency notifications, and community warning systems. BSFD participates in community notification systems and evacuation planning.
- Madison County Emergency ManagementcoreCounty emergency management partner for Madison County portions of the fire district, supporting disaster coordination and emergency preparedness.
- Big Sky Medical CentercoreLocal medical center where BSFD Paramedics work within Gallatin County Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Protocols and coordinate with Emergency Room physicians.
- Bozeman Deaconess HospitalmajorRegional hospital serving as destination for air ambulance transports when rapid ER transport is required. Area air ambulance services can be summoned to scene for critical patients.
- Gallatin Gateway Fire DepartmentmajorFire service mutual aid partner within the regional mutual aid network for emergency response support.
- Hebgen Basin Fire DepartmentmajorFire service mutual aid partner for wildfire response and emergency support in the Hebgen Basin area.
- Yellowstone National ParkmajorBSFD responds to a 40-mile stretch of US 191 extending to within Yellowstone National Park. Federal partner for wildland fire response and emergency services along the boundary.
- InspectionReportsOnline.net (IROL) Inc.majorThird-party reporting platform for annual Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (IT&M) reports. All Fire & Life Safety System Contractors are required to submit IT&M reports to IROL for compliance tracking.
- Fire Safety Consultants Inc (FSCI)majorThird-party plan review partner contracted to conduct reviews of all commercial and residential systems/plans including fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fire pumps, standpipe systems, and underground systems.
- Knox CompanymajorProvider of KnoxBox rapid entry system. BSFD supports KnoxBox installation on private residences, particularly homes not always inhabited. Keys are strictly accounted for and issued to verified individuals.
- Pintler Billing ServicesmajorHandles ambulance billing inquiries for BSFD emergency medical services. Contact at (866) 340-2505 or [email protected].
- Big Sky Water and Sewer DistrictcoreMaintains water supplies and hydrants in portions of Big Sky area (406-995-2660). Many homeowner associations also maintain private water systems with hydrants for fire suppression.
- Montana Firefighter Testing ConsortiummajorBSFD is a member along with other Montana fire departments (Belgrade, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Miles City, etc.) for shared firefighter candidate testing and recruitment.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Big Sky Fire Department competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Park City Fire District: Park City Fire District serves the Park City, Utah ski resort area with similar all-hazards response, ALS ambulance services, wildland fire preparedness, and community risk reduction programs in a high-value mountain resort market.
- Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District: Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District in California's Eastern Sierra provides structural and wildland fire suppression, EMS, and community risk reduction in a mountain resort area with comparable WUI exposure and seasonal population dynamics.
- Jackson Hole Fire/EMS: Jackson Hole Fire/EMS provides fire suppression, ALS ambulance, and community risk reduction in a high-value mountain resort area with comparable wildland-urban interface exposure and cross-jurisdictional mutual aid network.
- Teton Village Fire Department: Teton Village Fire Department serves the Jackson Hole resort area in Wyoming, providing all-hazards emergency response in a similar mountain resort community with comparable wildland-urban interface exposure and resort-area property tax funding model.
- Vail Fire and Emergency Services: Vail Fire and Emergency Services provides all-hazards response, ALS ambulance, and wildland fire response in the Vail, Colorado resort area with similar regulatory structure, property tax funding, and mountain resort community profile.
Others
- US Forest Service (Custer Gallatin National Forest): The US Forest Service is a federal partner for wildland fire management that collaborates with BSFD on initial attack and suppression of wildland fires in the surrounding national forest, providing federal wildland fire resources when incidents exceed local capacity.
- Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium: The Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium is a shared-service recruitment organization that BSFD joins with other Montana fire departments to standardize firefighter candidate testing and recruitment, providing talent pipeline infrastructure for member agencies.
Broad incumbents
- Bozeman Fire Department: Bozeman Fire Department is a larger, well-established municipal fire department that provides the regional Hazardous Materials Team response for BSFD and operates as a major mutual aid partner with broader service capabilities and urban resources.
Regional players
- Gallatin Gateway Fire Department: Gallatin Gateway Fire Department is a mutual aid partner in the same region of Montana, providing all-hazards response in adjacent Gallatin County territory with comparable departmental structure and Montana fire service operations.
- Hebgen Basin Fire Department: Hebgen Basin Fire Department is a mutual aid partner located in the Hebgen Basin area near Yellowstone National Park, providing similar wildland fire response and emergency services in south central Montana.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Sky Fire Department social profiles
Digital presenceBig Sky Fire Department financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Sky Fire Department leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Big Sky Fire Department funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Sky Fire Department M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Sky Fire Department
What does Big Sky Fire Department do?
Big Sky Fire Department is a publicly funded all-hazards emergency response agency providing structural and wildland fire suppression, advanced life support ambulance services, rescue and hazardous materials response, and community risk reduction to an 80-square-mile fire district in Gallatin and Madison Counties, Montana. The department also delivers fire and life safety inspections, plan reviews, short-term rental operational permits, open burning permits, and wildfire preparedness programs to property owners and businesses within its jurisdiction.
Is Big Sky Fire Department a public or private company?
Big Sky Fire Department is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Sky Fire Department founded?
Big Sky Fire Department was founded in 1971. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Sky Fire Department based?
Big Sky Fire Department is headquartered in Big Sky, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Sky Fire Department make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Property Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are ambulance Billing Services and permit and Inspection Fees.
Who are Big Sky Fire Department's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Park City Fire District, Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District, Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, Teton Village Fire Department and Vail Fire and Emergency Services. Others are US Forest Service (Custer Gallatin National Forest) and Montana Firefighter Testing Consortium. Bozeman Fire Department is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Gallatin Gateway Fire Department and Hebgen Basin Fire Department.
Does Big Sky Fire Department have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Sky Fire Department.
What industry is Big Sky Fire Department in?
Big Sky Fire Department's product category is Public Safety / Fire and Emergency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAGAB, Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue), with a secondary code of AFAMAEAE, Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response. Its NAICS code is 92216 and its SIC code is 4955.