Safety issue smoldering at city with no fire department

Bourbon County officials are grappling with another fire district issue – this time dealing with a lack of volunteers in the Redfield Fire Department.

On Jan. 9, Bourbon County Commissioners and officials with Redfield and Fort Scott discussed a lack of personnel for the volunteer fire department, as well as coverage for the fire district and its future plans.

Present for the discussion were commissioners, Bourbon County Fire District No. 3 Chief Delwin Mumbower, Bourbon County Emergency Manager William Wallis, Redfield Mayor Clarence “Ed” Guss, Beth Guss, Redfield City Councilman Kirby Martin, County Counselor Justin Meeks, and Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou and Communications Manager Traci Reed, representing the city of Fort Scott, according to minutes from that meeting.

According to the minutes, Ed Guss said as of Jan. 8, the Redfield Fire Department “has no manpower.” There was also brief discussion on consolidation of fire departments.

Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said the county has no jurisdiction over fire departments. The Redfield Fire Department does have a mutual aid agreement with BCFD No. 3. Mumbower said in the agreement, BCFD No. 3 responds to medical calls “and/or structure fires.”

“The lack of volunteers is a big issue,” Mumbower told the Tribune Monday. “We all fight that constantly. We still occasionally find one or two there, but it’s a never-ending struggle with people leaving and we have to keep finding new ones.”

BCFD No. 3 consists of several townships and portions of townships, and includes fire departments in Devon, Hiattville and Uniontown.

“Three stations are close by that can get there fairly quick,” Mumbower said.

Mumbower said at the Jan. 9 meeting “it is no problem” for BCFD No. 3 to respond to calls for Redfield, which is Fire District No. 4. But he told the Tribune the lack of manpower could become a safety concern.

“When Redfield is called, it comes over our tone and frequency,” Mumbower said. “District 3 is covering for the Redfield Fire Department. But to be fair to our taxpayers, it can’t be open ended. This ain’t the solution.

“There’s an immediate impact. The whole reason behind mutual aid agreements is that departments help each other. We need that in return.”