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Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce

May 26 is EMS Appreciation Day, ending a week of celebration and understanding of what our first responders’ life is like in Flathead County.

I spent time at the Bigfork Fire Station with Morgan Angelucci, an EMT, and firefighter. She reminded me of a line from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’ Like all EMS responders, Morgan may have to carry 40-60 extra pounds of gear on any given day, with the extrication tools weighing an additional 50 pounds. “That’s nothing compared to lifting people,” Morgan says confidently. “I know my limit and have no problem asking for help. The department is like a family, and I love being a part of it!”

Morgan is working toward her Paramedic (ALS) certification and is a resident of the firehouse, a new program to Bigfork. She receives free housing, hands-on training, and tuition reimbursement, all while living in one of the most beautiful spots in Montana.

“If I could tell everyone just one thing…” Morgan thought for a minute. “I’d remind them to pull over when they hear or see us coming. We are working alongside a highway or conducting traffic and you wouldn’t believe how fast some of the drivers are traveling. Please, slow down!”

Morgan added, “People don’t realize how far we travel to reach an emergency. If we’re responding to another call on the other side of the district, it can be a long drive.” That’s why agencies rely on services from local law enforcement partners, Search and Rescue, Two Bear, and Alert, as well as state, federal, and tribal resources for help. Speed and communication are essential in a county that is 5,256 square miles, most of which is forested or rural. Rivers and streams crisscross the landscape, not six-lane highways.

I also spoke with EMS Program Manager Alan Browne, “It’s great how our responders in the Flathead work with each other. Without that partnership, the EMS system could not be sustained.”

 

- Story by Flathead County Public Information Officer Kim Grieser

Pictured left to right: Bigfork Fire Fighters Morgan Angelucci and Jessie Barreto