Commissioners accept donation of eight fire shelters from LEPC for road crews

Hutchinson County Commissioners on the record accepted a donation of eight fire shelters from the Local Emergency Planning Committee and approved a use agreement that governs the shelters’ deployment and potential return to LEPC.

Brandon Stroke (S4), identified in the meeting as the president/chairperson of the LEPC, told the court the shelters date from about 1988 and can delaminate with age. He said the lightweight, quick-deploy shields are fire-resistant—not fireproof—and are intended as emergency protection for road and bridge employees who might be trapped near wildfire activity. "They're a little out of date," Stroke said, noting LEPC’s willingness to donate the equipment and possibly add two more units in a future budget cycle.

The use agreement includes basic indemnity language tying the donation to the stated purpose; Stroke said he avoided overly committal replacement language because the donating body cannot promise long-term funding. Commissioner (S1) moved to accept the donation and the court approved the motion. The court authorized signatures on the agreement at the meeting.

The county will place the shelters with road and bridge crews for firefighting-related deployment; the agreement provides that if use ceases, the LEPC may reclaim the equipment to distribute to volunteer departments regionally. The court did not attach a timeline for replacement; Stroke said LEPC would try to help secure additional units if budget allows in upcoming years.

The acceptance follows a recent local fire response that prompted LEPC to review field equipment and offer the donated shelters to county crews.