Why a Fire District?
The public record of WFSA's former Fire District proposal
What was proposed
WFSA formerly proposed creating an independent Fire District governed by elected trustees. The proposal would have changed the legal and funding structure while continuing to contract with the City of Whitefish for fire protection.
Current status
The existing petition packet is no longer current and should not be signed. The Board is not pursuing fire-district conversion as its current strategy.
Current focus
WFSA remains a fire service area. The Board is focused on a flat $420 annual service-area fee, up from $180, which requires approval from the Flathead County Commissioners.
Where to follow the current work
Board actions on the current fee plan are recorded in its agendas and minutes. See meetings & agendas to read the record as it is published.
The Board is not pursuing this petition.
WFSA stopped signature collection after newly created neighboring fire areas changed the legal boundaries used in the petition. The existing petition packet is no longer current and should not be signed.
The Board is no longer pursuing conversion to a fire district as its current strategy. Its current focus is seeking Flathead County Commissioner approval for a flat $420 annual service-area fee, up from $180, to fund six additional full-time firefighters. The material below remains available as a record of the former proposal.
Why WFSA proposed converting to a Fire District.
WFSA pursued a petition to establish a Fire District. Under the proposal, the district would continue to contract with the City of Whitefish Fire Department for fire protection.
A fire district would use a mill levy based on taxable property value instead of the flat-fee structure used by the Fire Service Area. The proposal was also intended to give district electors a direct role in future funding decisions.
Why establish a Fire District?
Our fire service area is one of the last in the state. Most fire entities have moved to a district status.
The public will be able to vote on the appropriate funding rate. Right now, the County Commissioners set our rate.
The public will be able to vote on any rate increase they determine to be needed.
A district funding model is used by every other fire entity in Western Montana. It established a mill rate for services provided.
Currently, everyone in the fire service area pays the same flat rate fee. With a district, fire services would be based on a rate determined by the taxable value of your property.
Better, faster fire service.
What does the service area need?
The former proposal described the service area as underfunded, understaffed, and poorly equipped. Community fire-protection capacity can be one factor considered by insurers, but it does not determine a particular property's coverage or premium. The Board identified response capacity and firefighter safety as reasons to invest in emergency infrastructure.
How much infrastructure do we need?
We realize the need for additional stations and fire service. Additional stations mean land, buildings, engines, and staffing. We have identified several areas where a station would serve the community the best.
Priorities Identified
The fire board understands the need for additional infrastructure; however, our current station needs a remodel to accommodate staffing. This proposed remodel needs funding. Our constituents will need to determine what level of emergency coverage they want.
How much will it cost me?
A Flat Rate structure is not common. Here's why:
Homes in the WFSA currently pay $180 a year. Fire district charges are based on a mill rate applied to the taxable value of property. Under that model, the amount varies with taxable value instead of being the same flat fee for each residential structure.
The 2025 petition materials used an estimated 14.2-mill starting rate, which produced these examples:
| Property Value | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| $2,000,000 | $405.52 |
| $1,000,000 | $202.76 |
| $500,000 | $101.38 |
Why we're asking, and what it means for you.
What Montana law requires.
Montana Code Annotated 7-33-2101 requires a petition signed by owners of at least 40% of the real property in the proposed district and by owners of property representing at least 40% of the district's taxable value. It does not set the threshold as 40% of residents.
Have an HOA?
Schedule a time for a personalized fire service update for your community.
Whitefish Fire Service Area Executive Director DC Haas is looking for HOAs to present fire service info to and answer questions. Reach out today to schedule a meeting.
Download the WFSA map.
Use the Flathead County GIS website to view current parcel and district information. Boundary information in the former petition packet is not current.
