Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Training topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Training and liability debated as Seward County seeks to revive volunteer firefighting
Summary
Speakers discussed ISO guidance, volunteer training hours and insurance implications; officials emphasized staged training, background checks and a slow ramp-up to ensure volunteer safety and county coverage.
The May 8 work session featured extended discussion of training expectations, insurance liability, and how to safely reintegrate volunteers into front-line roles. Several speakers cautioned against letting untrained individuals onto trucks without background checks and training; one speaker said volunteers should complete a set of training sessions before being considered operational.
Brady (S7) laid out the county's approach to training cadence and safety precautions and cited ISO guidance: "ISO suggests that a volunteer, within their first year, get 240 hours of training," and county staff contrasted that standard with the practical reality that monthly trainings (3–4 hours) have been the norm for volunteers. Officials proposed staged onboarding—background checks, classroom sessions and hands-on truck familiarization—so volunteers could be assigned roles consistent with their training level (water supply, driving with a senior crew member, pump operations).
Speakers also raised insurance and liability concerns: if volunteers operate under county direction or use county equipment, the county assumes responsibility for equipment and, potentially, farmers' machinery if used under direction. To address this, staff discussed waivers, background checks, and joint training with neighboring counties to achieve consistent standards before volunteers are cleared to fight fires or operate county apparatus.
