District hires first paid EMT

By Vince Lovato, Editor

SEELEY LAKE -- More than 90 percent of the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District are for medical calls.

That prompted Chief Dave Lane to ramp up the district's EMTs and paramedic roster.

"More than 90 percent of calls are medical and I am trying to provide the best level of service to our community," Lane said. "That why I am pushing to get people to become paramedics and we have to pick the right ones who can be successful in the program."

That's how Steve Larmour became then first paid EMT for the district.

Larmour, 46, of Seeley Lake, was a volunteer firefighter for more than a year before Lane suggested he apply to become an EMT.

The district paid for his 9-week training program, then created a full-time job he could fill, prying him out of his long-term gig at WinCo.

"Being a firefighter or EMT was a dream of mine as a kid, said Larmour, who has three adult children.

But after having his first child, he put that dream on hold.

He moved with his wife of 21 years to Seeley Lake in February 2021 transferring his job from Redding, Ca., to take a job at WinCo foods in Missoula.

"When I got (here) and had the chance to volunteer," for then fire district, he said. "I did it and it turned into a job."

He started volunteering as a firefighter in August of 2021 and Lane tapped him as an EMT candidate early this year.

After the district-paid training, and waiting for his state certification to come through, he started work on Oct. 18.

The district had three volunteer EMTs so Larmour's hiring is a landmark for the district.

But Lane, who is the only paramedic in the fire district, has bigger plans.

Now that Larmour is full-time EMT, he will soon begin paramedic training.

"Steve scored well in his interview and he was a previous volunteer so we got to know his personality and thought processes," Lane said of asking Larmour to take the training. "He is very knowledgeable and dedicated to what he is doing."

Capt. John Baker, a volunteer EMT, is also training to become a paramedic.

The step between emergency medical technician and paramedic is important, Larmour said.

While EMTs are trained to treat symptoms, Paramedics can also administer drugs and medical procedures.

Larmour said his training gave him great confidence to work his job in the field.

"Every time I can help someone it is very rewarding," he said. "I wanted to be able to serve our community the best way I can. We have an aging community so if someone calls 911 they want someone trained to show up at their door."

When arriving on a call, Larmour has a mental checklist he has to address.

First is to make sure the scene is safe for first responders and the injured parties.

Next, he assesses the scene for potential causes of the injury.

If there are multiple victims, he then performs a triage-type procedure to determine who needs help the soonest.

At that point and EMT can start treating victims.

While it sounds like a long list, it can only take seconds or minutes to get through.