A city garbage truck and civilian vehicle collided near the intersection of the Northwest Bypass and 6th Street Northwest on June 25.
The impact caused the vehicles to come into contact with Great Falls Fire Rescue’s Station 2, causing significant damage on the north side of the facility.
One person was transported to the hospital.
The crash remains under investigation.
GFFR conducting training with soon to be demolished structures; working to get new training center
GFFR Chief Jeremy Jones said that the collision came through the station yard, took out a support column, walk through door and overhead garage doors, which had been installed within the last 18 months.
Jones said the city building official was evaluating the damage, but so far, he thought the station could remain operational while they plan for repairs.
City Commission votes 4-1 to apply for $2.5 million loan to fund GFFR training center
They’ll have a plywood wall temporarily and secure the station, but repairs could take at least a month, he said.
In April, City Commissioners voted 4-1 to apply for a $2.5 million Montana Board of Investments intercap loan to finance Great Falls Fire Rescue’s training center renovations.
City staff applied for the state loan for up to $2.5 million and use the 3.5 mills that were redirected from the Great Falls Public Library to the city’s general fund through a renegotiation of the library’s management agreement.
The loan was recently approved.
In April, GFFR Chief Jeremy Jones told The Electric that the project can be broken into three parts, one for the existing tower demolition, the second for the groundwork and third construction of the new training tower/prop.
Jones told The Electric on June 25 that GFFR was working with the city streets division, which will do the asphalt work in house.
He’s preparing the contract documents for demolition of the existing tower that he’s hoping to get on a City Commission agenda in July.
Jones said the tower demolition has to be done first, then crews can do the asphalt work.
City continuing discussion of funding for GFFR training center, which is currently unusable
They’re hoping to get those components done this year and then build the new training center tower next year.
That timeline won’t help GFFR with its next ISO audit and the rating could drop since they’ll get dinged for the lack of training center, Jones said.
A drop in ISO rating could affect residential and commercial insurance rates.
In February, City Manager Greg Doyon said he had authorized GFFR to purchase a mobile training prop as a stopgap.
The mobile training prop is $59,850 and the GFFR Foundation purchased the trailer to move it between fire stations and other training locations for about $12,000.
City approves contract change for fire station improvements [2024]
“This training prop is not a substitute for the full rebuild of our training facility but serves as a critical stopgap measure to sustain training efforts until the new training center is completed. The prop will provide hands-on training opportunities, ensuring that our firefighters are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies,” according to GFFR’s budget worksheet for the purchase. “This strategic investment ensures that GFFR personnel remain highly trained and ready to serve while we work toward the long-term goal of rebuilding our dedicated training facility.”
The prop fits within a standard parking space, so it can be transported to each fire station for training in different districts and can be used within the engine bays during inclement weather, according to GFFR.
The prop is being purchased with funds collected through enforcement of their ambulance transport performance contract, which are unrestricted and GFFR typically uses those funds toward large items.
The prop is being built and GFFR is scheduled to receive it in July.
For a few months, they were using a prop on loan so rookies could get through the standard basic firefighter training. They had to return that prop in April.
