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Sherman County OKs creation of seasonal wildland 'engine boss' position to support federal deployments
Summary
The county gave informal approval to create a seasonal position to serve as an engine boss for federal wildland deployments; the employee would be a county hire but paid by deployments and covered by county workers' compensation while on duty.
Sherman County commissioners agreed Feb. 10 to allow the creation of a seasonal employee position for the fire department to serve as an engine boss on federal wildland deployments.
Fire department speakers said the position would be a county employee who does not receive county wages or benefits beyond workers’ compensation while deployed. Instead, the seasonal engine boss would typically be paid during federal deployments by the agency requesting the engine crew. Presenters estimated that individual firefighters earn roughly $9,000–$10,000 for a two‑week federal deployment and that payments to the engine for a deployment can be in the $26,000–$30,000 range, making deployments a potential revenue source for the department.
How it would work The engine boss would lead a three‑person engine crew drawn from certified staff on the Goodland Fire Department. County policy requires Sherman County employees to be on the apparatus when it deploys, presenters said; making the engine boss a county employee satisfies that policy and ensures a clear chain of responsibility for equipment care.
Administrative steps Commissioners asked whether the county needed a formal resolution or contract. Staff said they would draft an employment contract that designates the position as seasonal, specifies wages and clarifies benefits (limited to workers’ compensation while on deployment). Fire and county staff said the fire board had already reviewed the plan and recommended proceeding.
Next steps County staff will coordinate with counsel and the fire board to develop a contract and bring it back to the commissioners for formal approval, if required.
No formal salary or budget appropriation was finalized at the meeting; speakers said the role’s compensation during deployments would be paid by the deploying agency, and the county’s primary commitment would be administrative (employment classification and workers’ compensation coverage).
