The number of calls for rural firefighters dropped from 174 in 2014 down to 127 in 2015. But according to statistics compiled by Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges the dollar loss from fires totaled $514,084, compared to $292, 826 in 2014.

Berges pointed to increased moisture and less controlled burns as key factors in the reduced number of fire calls. On the increase in the dollar loss he said, “This year we had a couple major structure fires, one on Lawrence Drive and one also on Quarry Road, and then we also had that semi and that pickup that collided and caught fire up by the 82 junction. So those were our big three loss amounts this year.”

The average response time for fire calls was 9 minutes, 10 seconds.