Client Spotlight: Belcourt Rural Fire Department

About the Organization:

Operated by Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) and located in the town of Belcourt, the Belcourt Rural Fire Department (Belcourt Fire) serves the Turtle Mountain Reservation and associated tribal lands and structures in Rolette County. Belcourt Fire provides a range of essential services, including fire/wildfire suppression, prescribed burns, fire inspections, fire prevention, rescue operations, hazmat containment, and dive missions (Belcourt Fire 2024).

As of 2024, the department employs four full-time firefighters and relies on 22 on-call volunteers. The current fire station, built in 1947, is leased by the Tribe from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Turtle Mountain Agency. Beyond its age, the facility lacks adequate space for offices, dormitories, or even modest cooking facilities for crews on overnight duty. The fire chief and deputy’s offices, along with an informal shared sleeping room, are housed in an older residential building across the street. The service bays accommodate only four fire engines, yet the Tribe owns eight, forcing half to be parked outside without cover. This lack of indoor space for vehicles and gear has also prevented Belcourt Fire from acquiring additional equipment—such as engines, ATVs, ORVs, and boats—critical for rural and remote search and rescue operations.

To address these challenges, the Turtle Mountain Community Development, Innovation, and Research Department has committed to bringing a new, innovative fire hall to fruition. The department’s recent success with opening the Turtle Mountain Recovery Center provides a strong precedent for advancing a project of this scale.

From Erin Belgarde, Strategic Planning Coordinator for the Turtle Mountain Community Development, Innovation, and Research Department:

I am 100% committed to helping the Fire Department get the facility that they deserve.  Every day, these brave men and women put their lives on the line for the community.  They deserve a fire hall that will not only let them prepare and train, but also decompress after a call.