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Two volunteer departments report staffing gains and equipment needs to Curry County commissioners
Summary
Ranchville and County Line volunteer fire chiefs told commissioners their departments have improved staffing and ISO ratings but still need equipment and construction fixes — Ranchville seeks a 4,000-gallon tanker while County Line reported ISO improvement to a 5 and equipment upgrades.
Ranchville and County Line volunteer fire departments reported progress and outstanding needs to the Curry County Board of Commissioners during the meeting.
Ranchville Fire Chief Marcus Petroski said Ranchville now lists about 19 members and recorded roughly 15 documented calls last year, with dispatch discrepancies likely meaning 10–12 additional uncounted calls. He said the department’s Insurance Services Office rating was 7 and that a recent pre-ISO inspection by the state fire marshal’s office indicates the department should qualify for ISO 5, a change that could reduce residential insurance rates in that district.
Petroski said the department will apply for a grant to replace a 1993 tanker, seeking roughly a 4,000-gallon truck to replace the current ~2,000-gallon vehicle. He said the state fire marshal’s office has signaled the old tanker ultimately must be replaced. Petroski also described lingering construction and inspection problems on a 2023 addition, including a missing plumbing inspection, a door placed where plans did not call for one, drainage and hot-water electrical issues, incorrectly located awning/wind-wall installation, and undersized garage-door openers that have failed and required replacement. He said many subcontractors were used by the general contractor (referred to in the transcript as “the Gragos”), and that contract recourse may be limited for parts of the older building; commissioners asked county staff to review procurement/contract options.
Petroski described the department’s volunteer stipend practice: a state grant allows a per-call stipend that volunteers may accept or elect to donate back to the department. He said early on most volunteers donated stipends back to the department but that fewer do so now.
County Line Fire Chief Dustin Feit told commissioners County Line’s active member roster has grown to 24 from seven the prior year. He said the department’s ISO rating moved to a 5, which increased state funding to about $136,000 annually. Feit said County Line installed a drain that solved interior flooding, took delivery of new breathing-air (SCBA) bottles, and is awaiting a radio repeater installation. He said the department is pursuing outreach and recruitment at community events and is exploring vehicle options to safely transport volunteers to calls.
Both chiefs thanked the commission for support and accepted offers from staff to follow up on contract and equipment funding questions.
The commission did not take formal action on either report; the presentations were informational.
Next steps: staff was asked to review contracts related to Ranchville’s construction issues and to continue efforts to pursue grants and equipment funding for both departments.
