Apparatus

Engine 1

Engine 2

Engine 3

Heavy Rescue SR 1

Rescue 1

Rescue 3

Ladder 1

Tanker 1

Tanker 2

Tanker 3

Brush 1

Brush 2

Brush 3

Willard Fire Rescue Asked for Public Input by Phone Survey

On Possible Tax Increase for Paid Staff and New Head Quarters

• The percentage in favor (44%) exceeds the percentage opposed (34%); however a relatively large percentage of voters (22%) are undecided.

  
  Those strongly in favor (25%) slightly exceeds those strongly opposed (22%).  

•  
• The "undecided" voters tend to be older (70+), lower income (less than $35,000/year), less formally educated (high school or less) and female.
•  
• Direct mail is the method of communication most preferred by respondents (83%), followed by community meetings/public forums (57%) and articles/editorials in the Crosscountry Times (57%).  

  If you would like more information on the survey or the tax increase you can contact your Fire Chief Gary Wirth at 417-862-1738 or garywirth@willardfire.com

Gary Wirth
Chief
Willard Fire Protection District

 

Letter to the Editor by Willard Fire District Board Member Kirk Reisner

 

                                                                                   

 March 10, 2010

 Re: Willard Fire and Rescue Protection District

 Dear Editor,

 Last evening The Willard Fire and Rescue District had the normal monthly scheduled meeting, where I, a board member, made a motion that the “Willard Fire and Rescue District place on the June Ballot a 50 cent tax levy for personnel, building and operations cost for expansion.”  I made the motion with both pride and pain.  The pain is obvious; I do not want more taxes in our area anymore than the next person.  I am a small business owner in Willard, I own a home and a commercial building, and this levy will affect both.  The good news is as our Insurance Services Office class will improve, insurance rates will decrease.

 Now for the pride, Willard Area has a fantastic Professional Volunteer Fire Department.  We have the highest standard of training, quality equipment, and cutting edge life support equipment and on less than the original 1988 tax district levy.  (It is less than the original due to the Hancock amendment.)

 The Willard area has also grown.  Our population has grown, the airport has moved to an area where Willard now responds with automatic mutual aid, and we have 3 of 4 current approaches over our fire district.  Last year our department ran 813 calls, we are on track for nearly 900 in 2010.  Over the last 5 years our Volunteer Professionals have put in 14,000 to 20,000 hours each year!  This includes fires, rescues, motor vehicle accidents, medical calls, training, maintenance, and public relations.  In 2006 our response time was 6 minutes and now it is nearly 9 minutes mostly due to Volunteer fatigue and exhaustion.  These Volunteers all have families and jobs.  How much time are you willing to take from your family?

 This tax levy will allow the Protection district to put 3 full time professionals in the fire house 24 hours a day.  This will in no way eliminate our rich volunteer heritage, but assist them by taking care of a large portion of the medical calls, routine maintenance, and immediate response on all calls.  It will shorten our response time dramatically, lower our ISO class to lower insurance rates and put trained paramedics and EMT’s at medical calls faster. 

I encourage you to learn the facts out the Willard area Fire and Rescue District and I invite you to stop by my office in Willard if you have any questions.  I am located at the corner of Willey and Jackson Streets.

Thank you for your time,

 Kirk N. Reisner  AIC, CIC       

 

Willard Fire Rescue Responses to Working Garage Fire after an Explosion

  On February 25, 2010 at 1951 with Engine 2 arriving on scene at 2004 with a fully involved structure with flames coming through roof. Engine 1 provided water supply from hydrant to Engine 2. Fire attack was done with hand lines from Engine 2 and there deck gun. Engine 2 also supplied Willard Ladder 1 with water. Engine 3 providing an additional line for exposure protection of home to the north with water from Engine 2.

  Ebenezer Ladder set up and attacked the roof from overhead. Ebenezer Fire laid a line to their ladder from an additional hydrant to the north. No interior attack was performed due instability of roof except for CD corner of building through rear of structure. Fire controlled within 1 hour and overhaul began.

Owner stated he was charging batteries used for remote controlled airplanes in the southwest corner of garage. They heard smoke alarms going off, checked garage and found small fire. Owner retreated to inside house to retrieve fire extinguisher and when returned to garage approx. 2 minutes later garage was full involved. At that point they evacuated the home.

  KOLR TV VIDEO

Willard Fire Rescue Responses to MVA Rollover

On 02/09/2010 at 07:48:00 Willard was dispatched to 3400 block of North HWY AB for motor vehicle accident with injuries. Willard 2, Asst. Chief Deck arrived at 07:54:00 on scene with a mini pickup rollover on its Rt. side and into a power pole, the pole was FX in two and was possible held up by the truck and guide wires. No other hazards where noted. Units from R-1 directed traffic.  MHP released Willard from traffic duties before the power company started working on the pole.

Units responding were: Unit C2 and Unit R1.