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Kismet mayor tells Seward County commissioners slow response nearly forced school evacuation
Summary
The mayor of Kismet told the Seward County Commission that no county firefighter was on duty near Kismet for weeks and that an April 14 fire near the elementary school took "20 to 30 minutes" for the first truck to arrive, nearly requiring evacuation of students and homes.
A speaker who identified themself as the mayor of Kismet told the Seward County Board of County Commissioners on April 20 that county firefighter coverage in Kismet had been absent for about four to five weeks and that response to a fire on April 14 took ‘‘20 to 30 minutes’’ before the first truck arrived. The mayor said mutual aid was not requested in time and credited two county maintenance workers and local farmers for helping to stop the fire.
The mayor urged the commission to ensure a firefighter is on duty at the Kismet station during daytime red flag conditions, especially given the proximity of the fire to Kismet Elmer School, which the speaker noted serves about 160 pre‑K through second grade students and staff. No formal action was recorded directly as a result of this public comment; the matter is a community concern raised during the public comment period.
