ATLANTA, Kan.--
Four eastern Cowley County fire districts have learned they are at risk of losing part of their fleets after receiving a letter from a Kansas Forest Service official.The Atlanta and Dexter fire districts both have two trucks they obtained through a cooperative agreement with the forest service.
The Burden and Cambridge fire districts have one each.
These trucks, known as Federal Excess Personal Property trucks, now must have all outside riding platforms removed for safety reasons, Ross Hauck, fire management coordinator for the forest service, stated in his letter.
Prior to now, the forest service had suggested not using any platforms, but it was strictly voluntary to have them removed.
But the people who drive, maintain and fight fire with these trucks say their jobs would be much more dangerous if they were removed.
Atlanta Fire Chief Darren Grow and Dexter Fire Chief Bruce Hafenstein both said the alternative for riding on the platforms would be walking alongside the truck with the hose pulled, and that would create larger problems.
Hafenstein noted that they cannot fight fires as quickly without riding on the trucks. Removal of the platforms would result in greater property damage.
Grow said it would also put firefighters in peril.
"They do not understand, when them prairie fires are going, like the one down in Maple City, or any of these larger ones, I'll guarantee there's no way, shape or form you could be able to outrun it afoot," Grow said.
Grow also pointed out that the person riding on the front platform of one of their trucks also serves as a lookout for the driver, and often keeps them from driving where they shouldn't, thereby improving safety.
Representatives from all four fire districts met with state Sen. Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, at the Atlanta fire station Wednesday evening to share their concerns.
Firefighters from each department have said they have had little success in reaching Hauck since the letter was circulated. A message on Hauck's telephone answering machine stated he was out of the state and would be out of the office until Monday.
When asked what she could do to help, the senator said she would start by visiting with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
"I will be with the governor next Thursday in Winfield. Let me run this by her," Goodwin said.
"We need her support. This is our homeland security issue right here. It makes a difference for these guys with a thousand acres of grass or livestock. This is our issue," Grow said.
Firefighters present said these trucks from the four departments could go on as many as 200 runs a year. They also give mutual aid to departments in Winfield, Udall and Arkansas City fire districts, as well as for fires in neighboring Butler, Elk and Chautauqua counties.
Hauck wrote in his letter that the fire service "does not wish to deny a department the privilege of using excess property" and could offer design information and grant funding to assist departments in replacing the platforms with remote nozzles.
Goodwin also asked about other grant possibilities for getting trucks to replace the excess property trucks. Trucks not issued through the forest service could still have outside platforms.
"I hate to say it, but when you say grants, the big departments jump in and grab that grant money. Nine times out of 10, that big department gets that money before we even get considered," Hafenstein said.
Grow added that he has talked to both bank and county officials about loans and bonds, and he did get feedback that help could be arranged. But that's not the route any of the fire districts want to take.
"What it boils down to is if they pull our trucks, we would have to raise taxes to buy trucks, and you're going to have unhappy taxpayers," said Alan Holloway of the Dexter fire district.
Goodwin said if she didn't get the answers she needed at the state level, she would talk to federal officials.
"If I see any glimmer at the federal level of backing off this entire agreement, then I would like to visit with either Todd Tiahrt or Jerry Moran and see what our congressmen can do back there," she said.
"Let's educate them that we're not just a bunch of bloomin' idiots sittin' on a fender with a five-gallon bucket and a gunny sack." said Grow.
Goodwin said the government will respond to voices and numbers and asked if anyone would be willing to testify in Topeka or Washington, if needed.
"Sign me up," Cambridge fire chief John Conway said.
Republished with permission of The Winfield Courier.
