By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Liability concerns and lack of training have led Geary County officials to make a decision not to allow sheriff’s deputies to fight fires. They can still respond to help rescue someone, but the firefighting must be left up to certified volunteer firefighters.
Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges said initially the plan called for this change to be phased in slowly but because of the concerns the change was immediate for both on and off duty deputies responding to fire calls. “Unfortunately most of the time there was a fire the first couple of trucks out were being operated by deputies. That means our response time is going to be a lot longer, we’re going to request more trucks coming to the scene just so we have the volunteers responding. ” Berges added the Rural Fire Department was put in a situation where they’re trying to determine how to best take care of the problem.
Berges estimated the rural fire department now consists of about 60 people and lost about one-fourth of their workforce since more than 20 deputies were also considered firefighters. More volunteers will be needed. To become a volunteer firefighter you stop at or call the Geary County Emergency Management office for an application. Once it is filled out department officials will review it, call applicants in for an interview and then make a decision on possible hiring.
To be a volunteer firefighter you must be at least 18 years of age and have a driver’s license. Regular training sessions are held every month with volunteers training to the level of training they desire.
Berges noted the department needs volunteers because they are tasked with protecting residents and property outside city limits. There are 16 fire trucks at nine stations, volunteers carry pagers and are also notified of a fire via telephone, they have their own gear provided by the county and they are provided with a radio. March and April tend to be a peak period due to the burning of native grasses in the county.
The emergency management office is located at 236 East 8th Street and their telephone number is 238-1290.
The sheriff, county HR and county commission all agreed on the decision to discontinue the use of deputies to fight fires.