Opinion ID: 2597608
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Necessarily Implied Powers

Text: The question is whether the authority to operate an ambulance service is implied in I.C. § 31-1401. The statute does state that a fire district has the power to conduct activities relating to the preservation of life. Regarding municipalities, if the authority ... is not express but derives from necessary implication, it is not enough that the implied power is `convenient' to [express powers], but it must be indispensable to them. MCQUILLIN, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS § 34.23 (3d. ed.1995). Although Sagle is not a municipality, this approach is applicable. Thus, resolution of the issue turns on how indispensable the operation of an ambulance service is to a fire district. The district court found that Sagle has operated an ambulance service within its district at the Basic Life Support level since 1997. Sagle upgraded to Intermediate Life Support level in February 2000. Subsequently, Sagle applied for Advanced Life Support Level and received that approval from the State of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on December 17, 2001. The district court further found: There is uncontradicted evidence, that especially as to calls originating from south of the Sagle fire station, Big Sky will almost always take longer to respond. This is because Big Sky responds from Sandpoint (unless a unit is out on the road roaming around when a call comes in) and Sagle responds from Sagle (unless its unit is out on the road when a call comes in). Whether Sagle can respond two minutes faster on average or five minutes faster on average is of no real significance to the Court. What is significant is that Sagle can respond faster. These are matters of life and death, matter of life protection and life preservation. The uncontradicted evidence is that Sagle is faster to these areas, and if they are faster, they are providing a service that is not reasonably available under Idaho Code § 31-3901. The district court found it uncontradicted that Sagle provides faster ambulance service than Big Sky to the residents of the district. Sagle maintains that it began ambulance service not to compete with private services, but rather to protect the lives of patrons within the district. The Court is satisfied that the preservation of life provision in I.C. § 31-1401 extends beyond the preservation of life from fire. The right to operate the ambulance service for the preservation of lives of its residents is encompassed within the Fire District's power set forth in I.C. 31-1401.