NBVFD acquires land for future expansion

THREE MILE — The North Bench Volunteer Fire District’s Station 1 will be on the move soon as new property has been purchased by the expanding district. 

As NBVFD continues its unprecedented growth in residential, commercial and non-commercial business, the district must grow to meet these new challenges, NBVFD officials said in a press release. 

The new location of the district's future home is at U.S. 95 and Echo Drive on the west side of the roadway. The lot is large enough for the district’s current and future growth, officials said.

The new location is behind Sunset on six acres and will allow the district room for training and expansions. This is a big change from the current station which NBVFD Chief Tony Shope refers to as a pole barn with a microwave.

Shope said the plan is to split the property in half and sell a portion that the district doesn’t need in order to pay off the property loan. 

“This is the biggest purchase the department has ever made,” Shope said. “This would not be possible without the work by North Bench firefighters during the Kootenai Complex Fire and keeping themselves out there as long as we did.”

The fire started by lightning in August 2022 and burned more than 25,402 acres. On Sept. 2, 2022, Boundary County commissioners declared an emergency due to the numerous wildfires within the county, which would later be known as the Kootenai Complex Fire. The emergency declaration was rescinded on Oct. 24, 2022, after a week of rain. 

NBVFD along with other local fire districts responded to assist in fighting the fire for over a month. 

Several volunteers took vacation time at work in order to stay on the fire, Shope said, highlighting the dedication of the volunteers even as they camped out at the command station. 

“The guys made the whole thing possible. There is no way our small district would be able to pay for this expansion," Shope said. 

He also commended the board for being fiscally responsible and saving all money from the contract for a new property, excluding the purchase of a new air compressor. 

Shope said at first there was a concern that NBVFD wouldn’t be able to find a new home in the Three-Mile area due to what was on the market. The station needs to be in the area in order to respond to housing. 

Shope had six different real estate officials from three states watching available properties in the Three-Mile area for the district’s new home. 

“The bench is blowing up commercially,” he said, adding there will be additional courses for firefighters to go through this year to serve the increasing population.

The district board, with input from Shope, will be seeking grants and other venues to plan, develop and build the future home of the North Bench Volunteer Fire District and provide additional resources and services to our community.

Board members said they feel it is critically important to give credit for this opportunity to the district’s firefighters. Because of their efforts both during the Kootenai River Complex fires and the district’s continued financial restraint throughout the year, Shope said NB’s dream is becoming a reality.

The NBVFD board regularly scheduled monthly board meetings are held the second Monday of each month at Station 1 at Three Mile Junction. 

The annual meeting is scheduled for the last Saturday in February.