Since 1947
StructurE & Personnel
The Florence Rural Fire District has been a pillar of safety for Florence and its neighbors for over seven decades. Founded in 1947, our operations are led by 1 Fire Chief, 3 Assistant Fire Chiefs, 2 Captains, 2 Lieutenants and enacted by volunteer personnel who stand ready 24/7. Governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees, we ensure that every community resource is utilized effectively for fire suppression, emergency medical aid, rescues, and risk prevention. Our mission remains rooted in rural heritage while employing modern tactics to keep Florence protected.
OUR CORE PURPOSE
"To Protect and Serve"
The Florence Rural Fire District is dedicated to the protection of life and property through emergency response, proactive fire prevention, and comprehensive community education. We serve with integrity, readiness, and a commitment to the safety of all residents within our boundaries.
Evolution of the Florence Fire Department
Founding and Early Growth
The Florence Rural Fire District (FRFD) was founded in 1947 to serve the greater Florence area in Western Montana. In the early days, the department’s first Fire Chief, J. F. Wemple, housed the district's only fire truck—a 1934 Chevrolet—inside his own repair shop.
The department was formally organized according to state standards in 1953. The original leadership team included:
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Chief: J. F. Wemple
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Assistant Chief: Clyde Schreckendgust
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Board of Trustees: Arthur Olson, Lloyd Heggen, and Don Hill
Under the second Fire Chief, Lloyd Heggen, the department moved to a two-bay building near the current station's site. At that time, the facility lacked both heat and electricity, and the fleet grew to include military surplus vehicles, specifically a "deuce and a half" and an M37.
Evolution of Facilities
In 1970, the department constructed its first dedicated station at 234 Holloway Lane. As the community expanded, this was replaced in September 2009 by our current modern structure. This headquarters features:
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Main Floor: 5,000 square feet of apparatus bay space, 4,800 square feet for meetings and training, a modern kitchen, and administrative offices.
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Second Floor: 3,000 square feet dedicated to physical fitness, bathrooms, day room, kitchen, bathrooms, and additional storage.
Todays Florence Fire & EMS
The Florence Rural Fire District covers approximately 65 square miles and serves a population of roughly 7,000 residents.
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Personnel: We are powered by over 40 dedicated volunteer members available 24/7/365.
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Call Volume: Members respond to over 500 calls annually, including medical aid, structure/wildland fires, vehicle accidents, and physical rescues.
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Medical Services: Emergency medical calls account for approximately 80% of our total volume.
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Apparatus: We maintain a fleet of 18 apparatus for various emergencies.
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Facilities: Operating out of 2 fire stations, 1 storage building and 2 fill sites.
Annual Emergency Response Statistics
Tracking the growth of the Florence community and the resulting demand for emergency services from 2010 through 2025.
2010
302
2011
273
2012
328
2013
310
2014
350
2015
337
2016
334
2017
344
2018
309
2019
350
2020
393
2021
435
2022
399
2023
427
2024
462
2025 In-Depth Operational Breakdown
TOTAL CALLS
492
RESCUE/MEDICAL AID/MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
291
FIRE CALLS
43
HAZARDOUS CONDITION (NO FIRE)
37
FALSE ALARMS & FALSE CALL
9
SERVICE CALLS
46
GOOD INTENT CALL
66
NOTE: These are not completely accurate to the incident type, and are categorized based off a reporting system.
Call Rate Statistics
2025 was the busiest year in the history of the Florence Rural Fire District (FRFD), with over 492 total calls for service—about 1.35 calls per day on average. These incidents were covered entirely by FRFD’s all-volunteer staff, This represents a 59.22% increase in call volume since 2018.