ARMA, Kan. — From obtaining certifications to uninhabited structures, the Arma Fire Department discussed a wide range of updates with the Arma City Council Monday night.
One of the discussions, however, focused on the efforts of local firefighters and others from across the state who went towestern Kansas late last week into early this week to fight fires that have burned thousands of acres and several homes, leading to evacuations.
“We’ve currently got two of our firefighters, one of our brush trucks on a county deployment in western Kansas fighting wildfires,” said Arma Fire Department/Crawford County Fire District #2 Assistant Chief Brandon Hubbard. “We are hoping that they should be sent back in the next day or so. They told us 48 hours and depending on how it goes, they could be extended. But we checked on them, they are good.”
Councilman Gary Pommier and others expressed their appreciation for those who battled the fires in western Kansas.
“Congratulations to them and I hope they return home safely,” said Pommier.
Crawford County Kansas Emergency Management Director Quinton Parsons provided an update on the firemen Tuesday morning. According to Parsons, units from Crawford and Labette County were around the Ashland area in Clark County on Tuesday.
“After 14 hours in difficult conditions and navigating unfamiliar terrain in the dark, crews made the decision to stand down for safety reasons,” said Parsons in the post Tuesday. “Units are demobilizing and headed home this (Tuesday) morning.”
Aside from the update on western Kansas, Hubbard and the council talked about the firefighters at the department obtaining certifications.
“The firefighters that are not over there (fire station) are actually starting their certification process today (Monday) as Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations,” said Hubbard. “So anybody that’s not a fully certified firefighter and EMT, we are slowly progressing them. Today was the first day and I’ve got a class full of them, right now about nine students are getting their certifications in hazmat.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff here in the area. Anhydrous on the highway, rail, gas lines, so probably good stuff to have. In June, we are actually doing the full certification Fire I and II so all of our members by the end of that week will be fully certified to where they can actually go beyond in a career as a firefighter.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1. Meetings are held at the council meeting room next door to Arma City Hall, located at 701 E. Washington St. For more information or to be placed on the agenda, call the Arma City Hall at 620-347-4125.
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
