Montgomery County’s fire leadership told commissioners the county ran 396 calls from January through May, with 103 fires and 181 EMS calls, and that the department recently received a Department of Interior grant and is awaiting a decision on a major Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application.

"Since January up until May, we've ran 396 calls," Michael said during the meeting. He reported 24 structure fires, 11 vehicle fires, 57 grass or vegetation fires, 181 EMS calls and other incident types. The department received mutual aid 18 times and provided mutual aid 53 times.

Chief Michael reported an $84,000 Department of Interior award for four slip-and-skid units; the presenter said that award requires no local match and that paperwork to receive funds is in process. The department is also awaiting announcements on an AFG application submitted in 2024 that would cover equipment including bunker gear, SCBAs and grass trucks. "That was the big one that was worth the total of $986,500," Michael told commissioners; award notices are being released in weekly batches, he said.

On training and readiness, Michael said one staff member passed a written Fire Instructor I exam and is completing required course work; the department has rolled out KCAMP U online training access and purchased wireless routers to support station Internet. He described a regional exercise planned for July 9 to test continuity-of-operations plans under a simulated loss of communications.

The department also requested authority to sign memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with Independence and Coffeyville dispatch centers to allow firefighters to use a mapping and responder app called Lightning. Michael said the MOAs impose standard operating guidelines and that the dispatch centers will control access; he told commissioners there is no additional cost to the county for app access. Commissioners approved a motion authorizing the fire chief to sign the two MOAs.

Michael said the department plans outreach with businesses to seek sponsorship and advertising to help support the transit vehicle program referenced earlier in the meeting, and promised to provide calls breakdowns to commissioners on a monthly basis.

No formal funding vote tied to the DOI award or the AFG application occurred at the meeting; the board approved the MOA signatures and received the quarterly operational report.