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Geary County emergency management: fire responses up year‑over‑year; department receives $2,500 donation for gas monitors
Summary
Gary Burgess, Geary County emergency management director, told commissioners year‑to‑date fire calls rose to 115 from 99 at the same point last year and reported a $2,500 donation that funded new gas monitors; he also outlined SCBA testing, upcoming exercises and trainee plans.
Geary County emergency management director Gary Burgess told the commission that the county has handled 115 fire calls so far this year, up from 99 during the same period last year.
"Year to date for fire calls for 2025 were at a 115. Same period last year, 99. So we're 16 ahead of last year still," Burgess said. He said November responses included eight calls, three of them vehicle fires and no structure fires recorded for that month.
Burgess said the county received a $2,500 donation from the Kansas Pipeline Association and Kansas Gas to buy gas monitors. "That was a grant we wrote earlier to get those for the gas monitors. We were able to purchase 5 of those, and they actually presented us a check," he said. He said the monitors are now in service on the first‑out truck to measure gas levels on scene.
On equipment, Burgess described recent demonstrations of several Scott SCBA models and said captains and lieutenants will finalize specifications before placing orders. He said the department plans to align equipment choices with neighboring agencies to simplify bottle‑exchange compatibility.
Burgess also updated commissioners on training and staffing. The county has been running a basic fire academy focused on wildland response; he listed four county trainees and three for Grandview and said trainers include Brian Fields and Travis and Chris George. "We're gonna concentrate just on wildland side of it for now . . . so when we start fire season, we've got 4 guys already trained ready to go on the trucks," he said.
He said the 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is near completion, with one payment remaining and an expected reimbursement of about $19,000 once the final payment is processed. Burgess also previewed a tabletop and functional exercises scheduled for the 18th and said building inspections for insurance purposes will begin under Kurt Yonke while Burgess is on training travel.
The update closed with logistics and community outreach items, including bake sale fundraising and public demonstration participation.
The commission took no formal action on Burgess’s report; it served as an informational briefing and operational update.
