Not only does the Libby Fire Department have a first rate fire department, they have a top notch web presence, the best we've seen to date for a small city. It tells us that they have, at present, 28 volunteers on staff and nine pieces of apparatus at this location. In the past seven years the number of calls to which they've responded has varied from a low of 75 in 2011 to a high of 207 in 2007.
This fire station is actually two, housing the Libby Volunteer Fire Department and the Lincoln County Rural Fire District, Station 1 in two side by side buildings. Combined, their equipment complement is as follows:
City of Libby Fire Department
Fire Engine 30 - (Fire Pumper)
1993 KME - 1500 GPM Pump - 750 Gallon Water Tank - 1400' of Hose
Seats up to Nine Firefighters
Fire Engine 6 - (Fire Pumper)
1999 Spartan/E-One - 1250 GPM Pump - 1000 Gallon Water Tank
Fire Truck - Ladder Truck 1
1984 Simon-Duplex - 1500 GPM Pump - 400 Gallon Water Tank - 75' Ladder
Pre-piped Waterway to Platform for Aerial Water Discharge
Lincoln County Rural Fire District, Station 1
Fire Engine 5 - (Fire Pumper)
1993 Simon-Duplex - 1500 GPM Pump - 1000 Gallon Water Tank
Fire Engine 7 - (Fire Pumper)
2004 Ford F-550 - 70-35 GP Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS)
220 Gallon Water Tank/20 Gallon Foam
Water Tender 4 - Vacuum Tender
2004 Sterling - 500 GPM Pump - 3500 Gallon Water Tank
Water Tender 5 - Vacuum Tender
2007 International - 250 GPM Pump - 2500 Gallon Water Tank
Water Tender 6 - Vacuum Tender
2007 International - 250 GPM Pump - 2500 Gallon Water Tank
Command Center
1995 Chevrolet Utility and Communication Unit
The history of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department dates back more than 100 years. It is both a rich and colorful past that remains an important part of the lives and history of Libby, Montana.
As a result of the lumber boom typical of the early 1900’s, Libby was experiencing a growth spurt that prompted the formation of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department in 1911. In response to fires, volunteers would rush to assist by forming bucket brigades. These men, all ready for action when a fire broke out, would line up to the nearest water source and pass buckets hand in hand to the fire, working relentlessly until the fire was extinguished.
Over the years, with increasing fires, the Libby Volunteer Fire Department became better organized leading to a numbering system starting in 1957. That year, the Lincoln County Rural Fire District #1 was formed. Up until this time the fire department was strictly a city-based operation. This expansion resulted in the department becoming a dual fire department with tax revenues from both districts providing a lucrative source for the majority of the funding needed for general operations.
The Libby Volunteer Fire Department holds a special place in the history of the City of Libby, Montana.
It happened on the fateful day of Thursday, February 4, 1909 at 4:45am. A catastrophic blaze destroyed Dr. R. Sailey's Drug Store, the Geiger Building owned by John H. Geiger, the Switzer Building owned by Thomas Switzer, and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Sanders. Thankfully, all lives were spared, but the monetary loss was reported to have been between seven and ten thousand dollars. Over two years later, a group of concerned citizens met on May 11, 1911 and named Chief W.S Megquier and Assistant Chief John Kuklinski as a committee to constructively engage key members to form a competent fire department.
The following week, on May 18, 1911, a second meeting was held at the town jail building to complete the development of the formal organization. When all was said and done, the City of Libby and the surrounding area finally had a fire department.
In its first year, a total of 10 brave, young men manned the fire lines alone. Today, the fire department's roster is well over 30 active volunteers, all being part of a total in excess of 325 dedicated individuals that have proudly worn the emblem of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department over the past 100 years.
From the Libby Fire Dept.