Open House Block Party
BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
The Bellevue Fire and Rescue team are giving back to the community through an Open House Block Party with food, games, bouncy house and fun for the whole family.
How many of you know your local first responders? The heroes who risk their lives and safety to help during crises are all too often anonymous. We perhaps only know them at some time of peril. Now’s the chance to meet the firefighters of Bellevue, grab some barbecue, a hot dog and give the kids a moment of fun.
Fire Chief Greg Beaver
Greg Beaver leads the fleet of public servants as Bellevue’s fire chief. He and his team are all essentially volunteer firefighters with full-time jobs yet on call for whatever may arise. They train regularly with neighboring fire departments. In fact, every Tuesday starting at 6 a.m. they’re at the station doing exercises, learning new tactics or going over the basics to create the muscle memory that makes for quick and accurate decisions during times of chaos.
Thankfully, there aren’t too many fires in Bellevue, although they’re always busy with other missions. “We get about 100 different fire calls a year. We did have a pretty bad trailer house fire in January but, you know, thankfully, it’s not a lot. I think, you know, the building codes have changed and the people are more aware.”
Beaver has been in the Valley since 1986. He initially started in Sun Valley where he served six years, moved to Bellevue, and has been chief since 2005. His full-time job is at Friedman Memorial Airport where he’s a training supervisor and an operations airport firefighter. Knowing fire danger is Beaver’s business.
Well-Oiled Machine
The entire Bellevue Fire Department crew is made up of highly skilled tradesmen. “We have people that work for the state, HVAC people, builders, plumbers, electricians, the whole lot, which kind of makes us unique,” said Beaver. “We’re able to do multiple other tasks with our, you know, our full-time skills. Everybody’s got really useful skills.”
Good to know! Maybe you shouldn’t call them for a busted pipe but in the event that dealing with a busted pipe is part of a rescue mission, they’ve got it covered. “We put out house fires, reset alarms, rescue animals, do water rescue, brush fires, you know, any kind of fire, and of course extrication from cars with the Jaws of Life.”
Party Time!
Beaver and team have two structure trucks and a wildland fire truck which will be on display at the Open House Block Party. “Bring the kids. We’re going to have a bouncy house and some games. Come check out our trucks, meet the team and grab some free food. There’ll be barbecue, hamburgers and hot dogs, that kind of thing.”
Bellevue Fire & Rescue is funded by the city and all staff are part-time volunteers with full-time jobs. You never know what might come up in conversation–mutual friends, forecasts and boots-on-the-ground knowledge of what’s happening in the area.
The party is the perfect chance to further deepen the ties of the community so beloved in this area. Blaine County is well-known for its deeply entrenched fabric of friends—everyone seems to know everyone, and for years—and this makes for a safer, more friendly and even-keeled community.
As for fires, Beaver advises, “Be safe of fire. There’s a small brushfire up north right now, up by Starweather. Wood River Fire & Rescue or South Blaine County are on it, along with maybe some Ketchum units. But, it’s going to be a long, hot, dry summer, I think.”
Advice well taken.
The Bellevue Fire Department is actively recruiting dedicated volunteers, for which there is some pay. They recently finished a drill with the Hailey Fire Department that looked fun, focusing on initial attack with large water hoses from multiple engines.
Where & When
The Open House Block Party will be held:
Tuesday, July 1
6–9 p.m.
Bellevue Fire Department:
517 North 2nd St., Bellevue, ID 83313
Potential Volunteers reach out to:
Greg Beaver
Bellevue Fire Chief
(208) 481-2141
bfdchief@bellevueidaho.us
And at: https://bellevueidaho.gov/city-services/fire-department/
