Three Forks Ambulance Service Needs Volunteers
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Three Forks Ambulance Service Needs Volunteers Nancy Marks Reporter The nonprofit ambulance service based in Three Forks is in critical need of recruits willing to complete an emergency medical technician training course and then serve at least one year as an ambulance volunteer.
The Three Forks Area Ambulance Service (TFAAS) coverage territory includes southern Broadwater County’s rapidly growing Wheatland and Elk Ridge subdivisions, and parts of Gallatin and Jefferson counties.
“It’s our job to get ambulance service to over 500 square miles of area, 24 hours a day,” says Barbara Mutter, a member of the board of directors. It covers the city of Three Forks, the Willow Creek Rural Fire District and the Three Forks Rural Fire Districts.
When someone calls 911 desperately needing help, the fastest help is local. But if TFAAS is understaffed, the only help is from a private ambulance company in Bozeman, causing a wait of sometimes an hour, Mutter said in a written statement.
The ambulance at Three Forks was originally a public service with Three Forks and Gallatin County cooperating and funded by the county, but the district was dissolved, Mutter said. Broadwater County did not participate in the funding.
TFAAS has a five-member board of directors. It operates two ambulances from a recently built hall in Three Forks, well suited for the training course. Mutter said it costs $800 per person for the EMT training course, but scholarships are available. “We have money through the federal American Rescue Plan Act and have grant monies in the works. We even have donations offered to cover these expenses for anyone who wants to sign up for the course,” she explained.
The next course begins April 17. Classes are held each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. and every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course takes 13 weeks.
Mutter emphasized that recruits must sign a legal contract to serve no less than one year from their date of EMT certification. “We had six recruits sign up for the 13-week course only to quit. It was a hard lesson to learn for the service. We had to go to a legal contract to make sure people are willing to serve at least one year,” she said.
Mutter would like to see two people from the Wheatland-Elkridge area, two from Three Forks and two from the Willow Creek area sign up for the course.
For more information email 3fkamb@gmail.com or call (406) 209-3417.
“Unlike fire departments, our ambulance does not receive funding from property taxes. TFAAS is a nonprofit and only funded when folks use their services. With more volunteers we could respond to more calls; funding would come to THAAS instead of to the private ambulance service and our two ambulances could be fully staffed. Everyone, including your own family, would be safer and more confident that help would are fast when they need it most,” she notes.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Terry Ross, Barbara Mutter and Jeri Crowe, in their 60’s and 70’s, serve on the Three Forks Ambulance.
