Gallatin Media Center

On June 28, 2024, at 5:53 pm, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch received a 911 call from a group on a guided horseback trail ride after one of their riders had suffered a fall. The injured rider fell from their horse, hit their head, and was dragged by the horse for a short distance. The reporting party indicated that due to the rider’s injuries, the group felt it was best for the patient to stay in place and requested medical assistance. The patient was located 8 miles west of West Yellowstone, Montana near Buttermilk Trailhead.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid. It was determined the best and most efficient way for responders to assist would be through via use of a side-by-side utility vehicle. Hebgen Basin Rural Fire members responded to the patient via side by side and provided medical attention at the scene of the fall. The patient was transported on the side-by-side from the scene to a staged Hebgen Basin Ambulance for further assessment and treatment. The patient was later transported to Big Sky Medical Center for higher level care.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the individuals on the horseback ride for remaining calm, keeping the patient stationary, and providing accurate coordinates which allowed responders to make an efficient and hasty response.

For immediate release: June 21, 2024 

Media contact:
Patrick Lonergan, Gallatin County Chief of Emergency Management & Fire
406-548-0111
patrick@readygallatin.com 

 

Gallatin County Receives Additional Funding to Support Wildfire Mitigation Efforts 

Gallatin County has funding available to help residents in the Gallatin County Wildland Urban Interface reduce the risk of wildfire impacting their property.  

Wildfire risk is present throughout Gallatin County with the severity and risk varying based on location. Through the process of developing the 2022 Gallatin County Hazard Mitigation and Community Wildfire Protection Plan, 1,000,107 acres have been identified as Wildland Urban Interface in the county. Studies have shown that treating the area within 100 to 200 feet of your home greatly reduces the potential impacts of a wildfire.  

“You can take action to prevent the likelihood of your life or home being impacted by wildfire. And we can help you through that process,” said Jay Pape, Preparedness and Mitigation Manager with Gallatin County Emergency Management. “We can provide you with concrete steps you can take on your property and with as well as grant funding opportunities to help ease the costs.” 

The first step is for property owners to self-evaluate their property. This is a quick way to see what may easily be done to reduce wildfire risk.  

Residents can then request a FREE home risk assessment and Gallatin County staff will meet with homeowners on their property. The evaluator will review the self-assessment, walk around your property, and discuss what they are seeing. Following the in-person visit, owners will get a copy of the assessment.  

A home risk assessment provides an opportunity to ask questions, receive more in-depth guidance, and learn about approaches to wildfire mitigation. Mitigation projects could range from hand thinning areas around homes and structures, to larger forest thinning type projects, depending on the property’s size and continuity with neighbors.  

Many of the items identified during home risk assessments can be completed by homeowners. But in some cases, specialized skill or equipment may be needed. Homeowners can apply for a support that will offset their out-of-pocket expenses for any mitigation measures that may require more complex work.  In some cases, work may be 100% funded with support form the Montana Resiliency Fund. 

Montana’s investment in the Resiliency Fund makes a concerted effort to prevent costly repairs following a disaster by working with communities to mitigate potential damage risk prior to natural disasters. With this funding, MT DES works with local programs to apply for FEMA mitigation grants. FEMA grants typically require a 25% cost-share from the local government that is applying for the grant. Using this account, the state will be able to off-set the 25% local match. The 2023 legislature approved $4 million dollars a year for the next four years to the Resiliency Fund. By leveraging FEMA grants, this will result in a projected $64 million in disaster mitigation projects for Montana communities. The average disaster mitigation project has a 6:1 cost benefit, meaning this investment will save Montanan’s $384 million over the life of these projects.   

Wildfire mitigation is not a one-time project, but an ongoing activity. Properties may need heavier initial work, but annual maintenance that will be needed to keep the wildfire risk reduced over time. Residents who take part in a mitigation project with Gallatin County are required to follow a treatment plan for 10 years.  

Gallatin County’s wildfire mitigation program started in late 2022. We currently have four active funding programs covering several areas around the Gallatin Valley.  Interest in the program drives future identified project areas. 

This spring, the program added a three-person crew dedicated to helping homeowners conduct this mitigation work. 

Residents interested in getting their property assessed can find a step-by-step guide to scheduling assessments, applying for grant funding, and much more, at this link. 

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For immediate release: June 20, 2024

Media contact: 
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
406-595-8963 (cell)
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov

National Opioid Settlement Funds Available in Gallatin County

Montana has formed the Montana Opioid Abatement Trust (MOAT) to receive national opioid settlement funds. The MOAT funds are to be dedicated to reducing the harm caused by opioid misuse and addiction through prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives and are allocated on a formula basis to abatement regions.

The Gallatin County Metro Region, which includes Gallatin County and the City of Bozeman, has up to $792,307 available. The Gallatin County Metro Region Board will accept applications through the state’s website below and request funding from the MOAT Advisory Board for the projects it selects. Proposals up to three years will be accepted; the settlement funds available in years 2 and 3 are anticipated to be $452,205 each year. These amounts include supplemental funds received via direct settlement disbursements to the city and county.

The Gallatin County Metro Region Board plans to prioritize projects that align with the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition (GBHC) Strategic Plan, which can be found here.

The Gallatin County Metro Region Board plans to prioritize applications that focus on evidence-based prevention, care coordination, warm handoffs, and connection to behavioral health treatment and social health services to stabilize individuals and families but will also consider other proposals that align with the GBHC strategic plan.

For the listing of eligible uses of opioid settlement funds, please see this link.

To apply for MOAT funds, please visit this website.

DEADLINE for submission is 9 p.m. August 31, 2024.

Questions regarding the application or review process should be addressed to Cola Rowley at Cola.Rowley@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-582-3047.

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For immediate release: June 19, 2024

Media Contact:
Paige Tolleson, Project Support Staff of the Gallatin Local Water Quality District
406-582-3167
Paige.tolleson@gallatin.mt.gov

Public Invited to Belgrade Well Testing Clinic

The public is invited to a free informational well testing workshop on Wednesday, June 26 at the River Rock Community Center.

The Gallatin Local Water Quality District (GLWQD) will host representatives from MSU Extension, the Gallatin Conservation District, and the Environmental Health Services division of the Gallatin City-County Health Department, who will discuss the importance of testing groundwater quality that is being used for drinking water.

Test kits will be available for pickup through MSU Extension’s Well Educated Program. Experts will help provide guidance to homeowners on important parameters to test for specific to Gallatin County’s groundwater quality. Information on how to apply for the Gallatin Conservation District’s cost share program will also be presented. This program allows participants in the Well Educated Program to be reimbursed for 75% of the cost of their well test.

The presentations will be held at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, June 26 at the River Rock Community Center, located at 101 River Rock Rd. in Belgrade.

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On June 15, 2024, at 12:58am, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch was notified of a pair of mountain bikers suffering from heat exhaustion and were lost in the area of Brackett Creek Rd.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and GCSSAR volunteers deployed a hasty team from the Valley Section in a side-by-side ATV up Brackett Creek Rd west of Bridger Canyon Rd to search for the mountain bikers. GCSSAR located the cyclists as they were self-extracting on foot.

GCSSAR personnel conducted medical evaluation of the bikers and determined they were suffering from heat exhaustion but otherwise unharmed. GCSSAR assisted in escorting the bikers back to the trailhead.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind recreationists to always bring sufficient food and water especially when conditions are forecasted to be hot! On top of the heat, when you are active at higher altitudes, your breathing rate increases and more water than usual is lost due to breathing, so it is important to have plenty of extra water.

 

On June 16, 2024, at 11:23 am, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a call from a pair of skiers who had been injured while skiing “The Great One” couloir southeast of Sacagawea Peak. Due to one skier having an injured shoulder, and the other sustaining a compound fracture on one arm, the skiers were unable to safely continue down the couloir.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and GCSSAR Volunteers responded, and it was determined that a helicopter “short haul” extraction of the skiers to an ambulance waiting at the nearby Battle Ridge trailhead would be the safest course of action. Intermittent cell phone reception caused some initial communication issues, but an uninvolved individual further up hill was able to yell down and relay information to emergency responders.

GCSSAR volunteers from the helicopter short-haul team were inserted near the injured skiers and were able to access the subjects. GCSSAR volunteers conducted medical evaluations and provided first aid for the injuries before preparing the pair for extraction. In two trips, the helicopter from Central Copters, Inc. was able to safely transfer the injured skiers and two rescuers to the Battle Ridge trailhead with the remaining two rescuers electing to walk out on foot.

One injured skier was transported by AMR ambulance to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center for follow-on medical care, while the second was given a courtesy ride by Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the same hospital.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind all who recreate in the backcountry that cell phone reception is not always available; and especially when engaging in high risk or extreme sports, having the means to contact emergency services is crucial. A GPS paging capability like a Garmin inReach or similar is strongly encouraged. Furthermore, this is a reminder that it is not a good idea to recreate alone, having a friend around to call for help and stop the bleeding saves lives.

 

On 6/6/2024, at 7:25 pm, Gallatin County Dispatch received notification of a disoriented and exhausted hiker who was discovered by a good Samaritan near Mystic Lake Cabin.  The disoriented hiker was unable to hike out on her own due to exhaustion and falling darkness and did not have adequate supplies to spend the night.  The good Samaritan escorted the hiker to Mystic Lake cabin and waited with them for emergency responders.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the Valley section responded along with Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies. Using specialized off-road vehicles, GCSSAR volunteers were able to locate and access the hiker. After a medical evaluation, they were provided a ride to the trail head without further incident.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the good Samaritan for having adequate supplies and a communication plan while recreating in the back country. It is always a good idea to bring enough gear to potentially stay the night in the back country, even when just going for a short hike. After all, you may not need the equipment for yourself, but somebody else.

 

On June 5, 2024, at 3:55 pm, Gallatin County Search and Rescue was requested to assist a subject having a medical condition while on a horseback ride originating at a local ranch in the West Yellowstone area. The patient had history of a heart condition causing unhealthy heartbeats. During the trail-ride, a couple miles away from the ranch the subject felt like they were not going to be able to ride all the way out and requested assistance returning to the ranch.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the West Yellowstone Section responded to the ranch. Volunteers deployed a side by side off-highway vehicle, and as a backup, a one wheeled litter in case the OHV couldn’t negotiate the terrain. Fortunately, the volunteers were able to meet the subject with the OHV and drive them out to an awaiting ambulance at the ranch. The subject was assessed by ambulance personnel, and ultimately declined transport to the hospital for further evaluation.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind all who recreate in the backcountry with health limiting conditions that it is even more important to have a solid emergency plan and means of communication with emergency services. Furthermore, make sure you have enough medical supplies as well as warm clothing, food, and water on hand, not just for the duration of your trip, but in case you end up stranded or delayed.

On June 5th, 2024, at 8:36PM Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a call from a group of rafters who had flipped their raft just south of “House Rock” on the Gallatin River, downstream from the Lava Lake trailhead on Highway 191. After the capsize, two of the party had made their way to the eastern bank of the river away from the highway and were stranded.  GCSSAR Volunteers from the Valley and Big Sky teams as well as Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the scene.

The group of four rafters had successfully completed one run of the “Mad Mile” (a whitewater section of the Gallatin River) and decided to make a second run.  The second trip through the rapids began around 8:00 PM, and the group’s raft capsized shortly after navigating the “House Rock” rapids.  Two individuals made their way safely to the western shore, but two others found their way to the eastern shore and were stranded by fast-running water and the fact that they had lost their shoes in the river.

A team of three GSSAR volunteers made their way downstream on the east bank of the river from a bridge near Lava Lake trailhead.  The team met the stranded rafters, conducted medical evaluations, provided them with shoes, and guided them out to safety.

Sherrif Dan Springer would like to remind whitewater enthusiasts that early season waters can be more turbulent and difficult to navigate.  Whenever possible, it is beneficial to scout your intended float, noting hazards as well as possible escape/extraction routes.  Always wear a personal flotation device, and a helmet.  Finally, (as much as the river allows), have clothing and supplies appropriate not just for the float itself, but for self-extraction by land or a possibly long wait on the riverbank for rescue.

On June 4, 2024, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue was called to the Lava Lake Trailhead for three missing children. The children reportedly went missing off the Lava Lake Trail during a family hike. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue began mobilizing resources including the Valley Section, Big Sky Section, Drones Team, Dogs Team, and a helicopter from Air Idaho. As the first Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on scene, the children returned to the trailhead.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind backcountry recreationalists to travel in groups for safety. Staying with a group prevents individuals from becoming separated and lost. In addition, groups of four or more recreationalists are significantly less likely to have a negative encounter with wildlife. If a member of a group is injured or disabled in the backcountry, someone can stay with the disabled party while two or more group members can return to cell service to call for help.