Idaho Ski Resort Opens its Own Fire Department

POWDER has learned via press release, that Brundage Mountain , known for being Idaho's snowiest ski resort based on average annual snowfall, has created its own fire department ahead of the Winter '24/'25 season.

The Brundage Mountain Fire Protection Association (BFMPA) officially began providing services on September 1, 2024 to Brundage Mountain and the nearby community. The department is outfitted with a fire chief, one fire truck, and fourteen volunteers that completed initial firefighter training earlier this summer.

Construction on a dedicated Fire Station facility will begin this fall. The department's lone fire truck and equipment is being stored in Brundage's existing buildings until the Fire Station is complete.

In addition to the new fire department, Brundage has expanded the resort's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) by adding an ambulance. Brundage had been operating its own state-licensed EMS agency since 2021, but is expanding to include transport services for the Winter '24/'25 season.

The press release provides an explanation for why Brundage has created their own fire department and expanded EMS transportation:

"Brundage Mountain has been working to establish an independent fire protection agency and independent EMS transport services since a change in Idaho State code prevented it from extending its service agreement with McCall Fire & EMS.

After exploring several options, Brundage Mountain management determined that funding and operating these two agencies independently was the best way to ensure prompt response times, excellent service, and the security of everyone who visits or resides in the Brundage Mountain community."

“When it comes to the safety and health of our team and our guests, we’re not willing to take any chances,” says Brundage Mountain General Manager Ken Rider. “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.”

It might seem like overkill for a ski resort with a relatively small infrastructure to construct its own fire department, but the initiative is surely looking ahead to the future. Part of Brundage's currently-active, $25-$30 million 10-Year Improvement Plan is to construct 21 single family homes, 11 cottages, and 45 townhomes. An aerial view of the planned lots for the ski-in, ski-out single family homes can be seen below.

Brundage is independently owned, but that doesn't exclude it from upgrades, investment, and growth. The resort is clearly making a concerted effort to accommodate its future residents in the creation of BFMPA and the addition of ambulance services.

Stay tuned as I plan on visiting Brundage in early January of 2025 on a family ski trip. I'm interested to see how much the place has changed since I first visited in 2023, and to gather feedback from locals as the 10-year improvement plan nears its halfway mark.

Brundage Mountain Stats/Info:

Vertical: 1,921 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 1,920 ac.

Average Snowfall: 320 inches (most in Idaho)

Lifts: 6

Trails: 70

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: YES

Mega-Pass: Indy Pass

Related: Copper Mountain Announces Opening Day for Winter '24/'25 Season

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