Friends of Gros Ventre Fire Station
Updates
The County Fire Department is completing its Strategic Plan, which will address the quality-of-service within all the various County zones (along with internal department issues- training, recruiting, etc.). This plan will include the Fire Department’s consideration of a Gros Ventre Fire/EMS station. It is a key milestone in our Mission.
We have met with Chief Moyer, his deputy, Brian Coe, and the fire marshal, Ray Lane, to keep our issue front and center. They have informed us of the Fire Department’s budget constraints and difficulty finding and hiring firefighters. We are awaiting the delivery of a draft of the strategic plan, initially scheduled for a mid-May completion, and expect it now in July 2025.
Once the plan is completed, Chief Moyer will request a joint meeting between the Town and County to present his plan. At that point, there will be public meetings. Our community must engage in these public meetings to articulate what the impact of the lack of timely EMS and fire service has cost us. With robust community engagement, the elected officials will recognize the importance of our mission.
Friends of Gros Ventre Fire Station
In the news
Fire ratings could reduce insurance costs
Jackson Hole News & Guide - May 3, 2025
WHY IT MATTERS | New ISO ratings have been released for the various fire station territories in the County. Fire Departments use ISO ratings to rate their quality of service, and insurance companies use them to determine risk premiums. 1 is best, and 10 is worst.
The Town is the best territory in the County at 4. our area north of Jackson is the worst at 10—the biggest reason is that there is no fire station in the territory.
Teton County accepts $82.8 million budget
Jackson Hole News & Guide - June 25, 2025
WHY IT MATTERS | Teton County and the Town of Jackson are struggling with budget constraints, both in Capital spending and Operations. This article details the situation. Because of this, the Friends of Gros Ventre Fire Station are proposing a public-private partnership for the construction and operation of the Fire/EMS service for the communities north of Jackson.
Joint Powers Agreement Negotiation
WHY IT MATTERS | Both the Town and County support the Jackson Hole Fire Department financially. This is done through a “Joint Powers Agreement”. The County manages the Fire Department. Today, the County provides 54 % of the Fire Department’s budget and the Town provides 46%.
However, the updated funding commitments lay out a three-year transition to sharing percentages consisting of:
57% County/43% Town (as of July 1, 2025)
60% County/40% Town (as of July 1, 2026)
62% County/38% Town (as of July 1, 2027)
These temporary numbers were agreed upon until a permanent funding allocation could be established by January 1, 2031. If no agreement is reached by that date, the funding formulas will revert to the population-based agreement on July 1, 2031, as stated in the original language.
Both entities have engaged Emergency Services Consulting international (“ESCI”) to help provide a methodology for the parties to negotiate a lasting split of financing over time.
The report from ESCI is attached:
The Friends of the Gros Ventre Fire Station (FGVFS) is a Teton County, Wyoming-based nonprofit organization formed to galvanize our community and spearhead fundraising efforts to accelerate building a fire station north of Jackson.
Friends of the Gros Ventre Fire Station is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Tax ID # 92-3820674