The BFD has an Advanced Life Support transporting license. Our Paramedics provide critical pre-hospital invasive procedures including intubation, intravenous fluid and medication administration, defibrillation with cardioversion and external pacing. Our Intermediate/Advanced EMTs provide the same services, but they cannot administer certain drugs. 

Fire Department ALS equipment includes Life Pack 15 defibrillator/monitors, I.V. administration kits, blood glucose monitors, narcotics/medications, and intubation kits.

BFD supports emergency city coverage with other local EMS providers. We have two ambulances, Bozeman Medic 1 and 2. If all other EMS units are away, we respond using these ambulances. We can provide care and transport to local hospitals. 

Confined Space & Trench Rescue

The Bozeman Fire Department Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Response Team trains for confined space rescue using OSHA regulations. This type of rescue includes incidents where people are trapped in small or unsafe spaces. We use special methods to get people out. 

Bozeman has a lot of new construction, which means these calls are more common. Emergencies include trench collapses and workers stuck in tunnels.

High & Low Angle Rescue

Bozeman firefighters train with ropes and technical rescue hardware. We do low angle rescue when people can't walk up steep terrain, usually using ropes for this rescue work.

We do high angle rescue when slopes are greater than 45-degree angles. These incidents aren't common. However, BFD sometimes needs to rescue people from hard-to-reach places, including steep hills, mountainsides, and construction sites.

Our frontline fire apparatuses are ready to respond to these calls, supported by Gallatin County Search and Rescue.

 Ice & Water Rescue

Bozeman firefighters train with special equipment and techniques to rescue people from water and ice emergencies. Firefighters use cold-water flotation suits and ropes to safely enter icy water, then help people trapped under thin ice. 

It is important for us to respond quickly to these emergencies. Cold water swiftly weakens people, and people with hypothermia can't stay afloat. Untrained bystanders often become victims themselves, which makes emergencies worse. 

We have a wide variety of calls for service. Calls can range from a false alarm to a complete structural collapse. The Bozeman Fire Department fully staffs three firehouses. Each firehouse has two fire engines, a tower truck, and a 24/7/365 Battalion Chief.

BFD relies on off-duty firefighters to staff a reserve apparatus when needed. Firefighters might need to help out when large emergencies happen or all our on-duty firefighters are out on calls. We also work with a county-wide automatic aid program, which brings important firefighting resources into Bozeman and sends city resources to county/rural emergency scenes.

The Bozeman Fire Department staffs one of six regional hazardous materials response teams in the state. The team not only covers the city and region but has partnered with Gallatin County since 1986 to provide a county-wide level A hazardous materials response. The HazMat team is comprised of Bozeman Fire personnel who are specially trained at the OSHA Hazmat Technician level or above.

The team participates in monthly trainings and annual drill requirements along with annual physical exams in order to maintain their status.

This policy guides BFD officers when using Unmanned Aerial Systems, such as: 

1. Digital Multimedia Evidence (DME): Digital recordings of images, sounds, and associated data.
2. Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC): A person exercising control over an Unmanned Aerial System
3. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): An aircraft intended to navigate the air without an on-board pilot. Also alternatively called Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), or Drone.
4. Visual Observer (VO): A person assigned to assist with the safe operations of the UAS.

Unmanned Aerial Systems Standard Operating Procedures