By Tracy Thornton
The Montana Standard
BUTTE, Mont. — The Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department has made history, thanks to four of its firefighters, Kahl Clark, Riley Hash, Lee Sullivan and Austin Perry.
Besides their firefighting duties, the four men are all paramedics, which means for the first time there will potentially be a paramedic on duty for each shift.
“We have never had it,” said Clark.
A captain with the BSBFD, Clark said earning an associate of applied science degree in paramedic studies is no small feat. The 18-month course requires completing 73 credits through the University of Montana and more than 1,000 hours of clinical work in an operating room, emergency room, labor and delivery, behavioral/psychiatric, and intensive care, along with completing fieldwork with Emergency Medical Services.
To fulfill the clinical work, traveling to other Montana cities is a necessity, too.
“Now there is a team of us,” said Clark, who was already a paramedic when he joined the fire department 17 years ago. “It gives us more tools to help those in need.”
Those tools include rendering advanced care to patients, whether that be administering an IV or medication, taking vitals, setting a broken limb or inserting a breathing tube.
BSBFD is also staffed with an additional three firefighters certified as advanced emergency medical technicians and 31 more are EMTs. Being an EMT is a requirement for the department.
That medical training has come in handy numerous times. Last year, Butte firefighters responded to 3,108 medical emergencies.
Clark, who was living and working in Great Falls in 2007, wanted to come back to his hometown to help his parents out and taking a position with the fire department allowed him to do that. He’s glad he made the move.
“We are public servants and have the opportunity to help people every day,” said Clark. “That’s a neat reward.”
Lee Sullivan has been a firefighter since May 2017. He credits Clark for his decision to take the firefighting job and further his education by becoming one of the department’s newest paramedics.
“I owe it all to Kahl that I’m even here,” said Sullivan.
Born and raised in Butte, Sullivan enjoys the dynamics of being a firefighter and now being a paramedic is a bonus.
“I like being out there and helping,” he said.
Perry, who grew up in central Illinois, is the newest member of the BSBFD team, joining the department two years ago.
It was while living in Illinois that he decided to become a paramedic as well.
“I watched how these paramedics made a difference and made the jump,” said Perry.
Later, he and his wife were looking for a change and wanted to move to western Montana. A winter sports enthusiast, he applied with the BSBFD and was offered a job.
“Once I officially had the job, we packed up and took a chance,” he said. “We made it work.”
A three-year veteran of the department, Hash had ambitions to go to medical school but decided the fire department was a better fit.
“I have no regrets,” he said.
Hash, like Sullivan, recently completed his degree in paramedic studies and is eager to help when needed.
“Being able to provide advanced life support is important,” he said.
Sullivan said having a paramedic on each shift is a welcome addition for Butte .
“This is something Butte needs,” said Sullivan.
Since Sullivan and Hash have earned their associate degrees, other firefighters have expressed an interest in joining the ranks.
That thrills the four men, saying more paramedics are needed.
“Lee and Riley are role models for others to show that it’s possible even while working full-time jobs,” said Clark.
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