Ten year ago, the Victor Volunteer Fire District purchased a 1997 Ford F250 ambulance from the Telluride, Colorado Fire District. The ambulance had 20,000 miles on it and now has nearly 80,000. That ambulance has now been replaced by a later model (2005) Ford F250 purchased from the Genesee, Idaho Fire District. The new replacement cost $50,000 and has only 4,000 miles on the engine. According to Victor EMS Captain Roy Perry, “This replacement should last us another ten years, is in great running order and has features more suited to patient care.”
Victor Fire District is the only fire district between Missoula and Hamilton with an ambulance.
“Our priority is the Victor Fire District but we cover the entire valley,” said Perry.
The new ambulance is being paid for by lease payments from Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital collected over several years. “The Victor Fire District is fortunate to have fourteen EMTs on staff,” said Perry. “The Victor Volunteer Fire District responds to approximately 250 ambulance calls annually and takes patients to all hospitals from Missoula to Hamilton depending on the need.”
The older 1997 Ford ambulance that is being replaced will be put up for sale.
The Victor Rural Fire District was established on September 28, 1950. The District encompasses 100 square miles in the center of the Bitterroot Valley. The District borders U.S. Forest Service ground for 10 miles on the west side of the fire district. The eastern boundary is the Forest Service ground in the Sapphire Mountains. The southern boundary is Sheafman Creek Road six miles from Victor; the northern boundary is Indian Prairie Loop four miles from the town of Victor. The District has both the Bitterroot River and Highway 93 running the entire length, and includes some 3,000 residents and over 170 businesses.