Sedgwick County
Fire District # 1
7750 N. Wild West Dr.
Park City, Kansas 67147
Tel: (316) 660-3473
Fax: (316) 660-3474
Emergency: 911

CFAI Accredited

Member
 

09-11-01

 

Adopt-A-School Success Story

Station 36 A Shift and Cooper Elementary have been involved in the Adopt-A-School Program since its inception in January 1993. Once again, we’re realizing their efforts in teaching fire safety to the students make life-saving impacts.

On December 12, Jaiden, a kindergartener from Cooper Elementary awoke in her home and smelled smoke and heard “crackling” coming from the ceiling.  Jaiden woke her mother who discovered that there was a fire in the attic. While her mother started waking the other five residents sleeping in the home, Jaiden ran back to her bedroom and got her three-year-old brother out of the house.

Once all had escaped, and 911 had been notified, the B shift crew from Station 36 quickly extinguished the blaze. During the investigation, it was revealed that five-year-old Jaiden had learned fire safety information from the firefighters who visit her school. Had Jaiden not notified an adult of the possible fire, tragic consequences could have resulted.

---

Fire Prevention Week 2009 Winners

Winners have been announced in the Sedgwick County Fire Department’s Eighth Annual Roody Doo contest for Fire Prevention Week, which was October 4 - 10, 2009. Roody Doo is the department’s Dalmatian mascot for fire prevention activities.

Students were judged on completion of puzzle worksheets. Each won a plaque and a $40 gift card to All Star Adventures or Build-A-Bear Workshop. The winners are:

(click pictures to enlarge)

• Hannah D. fourth grader Sunrise Christian Academy
• Ryan R. fourth grader Oatville Elementary
• Anna B. third grader St. Peter Catholic School
• Nick A. third grader Ruth Clark Elementary
• Rob W. fourth grader Andale Elementary
• Autumn B. third grader St. Marks Charter School

Teachers who incorporated the worksheets into homework assignments were rewarded by having their names placed in a drawing for a $40 gift certificate to Granite City Food and Brewery and were given a plaque. The winners are:

(click pictures to enlarge)

• Leah Dreiling - third grade teacher at Amelia Earhart Elementary in Goddard
• Marcia Mueller - third grade teacher at Bentley Primary School
  

---

Oklahoma Burn Camp 2009

Lt. Steven McDaniel attends 2009 Oklahoma Firefighters’ Burn Camp for Second Year.  Click here to read more.
 

---

Fire Chief Gary Curmode on the Sedgwick County Fire District

Watch Sedgwick County Fire District's Chief Curmode speak about coverage areas, changes in the department and trends within the district.  Click here to watch the video.

---

Viola Township Receives Insurance Premium Reduction

Many citizens in Viola Township in southwest Sedgwick County will see a significant savings on their insurance premiums.

The Insurance Services Office recently surveyed Viola Township according to available fire protection and the results are in.

Viola Township is currently rated as a class 10 insurance protection class; in the near future many citizens of Viola Township will be in insurance protection class seven, which is a significant improvement.

This reclassification will affect approximately 95 households, which is a majority of the households in Viola Township.

The estimated potential savings in insurance premiums for Viola Township will be $40,000 per year.

This reclassification is the result of a joint effort between the City of Viola, the Viola Fire Department, Sedgwick County Fire District #1 and Sedgwick County Public Works.

---

Lymphoma Society’s 2009 “Little Boy of the Year”

Sedgwick County Fire District #1 helped fulfill the dream of Braeden, the local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2009 “Little Boy of the Year” of becoming a firefighter.  On his 7^th birthday, fire officials surprised Braeden at his school with the announcement that he would be a firefighter for the day.  He was presented with a uniform identical to the firefighters and was driven to Fire Station 32 in a fire engine.  Braeden was issued pint-sized full protective clothing and went to work.  He helped fight a real fire, prepared lunch, and worked with the Technical Rescue Team.

---

Station 36 B Shift Honored

Station 36 B Shift was honored by the staff and students from Oaklawn Elementary School during their Awards Presentation Assembly. They were presented with a plaque in appreciation of their hard work and dedication to their school.

Photo From Left To Right:  FF Ken DeHoff, FF Randy Willig, Captain Carl Warren, FF Jim Jefferies, Lieutenant John Poe, (not pictured: FF Maroun Faissal)

---

Insurance Women of Wichita Firefighter of the Year

On September 12, 2008 personnel from the Sedgwick County Fire Department Rescue Team were assisting Wichita Fire Department with operations in a flooded area in west Wichita along the Cowskin Creek.  Sedgwick County Fire Department Squad 37 and Boat 37 were staged at the operations command post at Central and Maize Road. 

Shortly before 5:30 pm, units from the Wichita and Sedgwick County Rescue Teams were dispatched to the report of a drowning at 1301 South Maize Road.  When crews arrived on the scene they found the three victims about 100 yards from the edge of the water.  A large body of water had formed with the combination of the Cowskin Creek, which had crested over its banks and a large pond that was located in the backyard of the residence.  The victims were in an area of swift water and clinging on to branches when crews arrived.  They were screaming to Fire Department personnel that they were very tired and could not hold on much longer.  Crews knew that these victims were being affected by possible hypothermia and obvious extreme physical exhaustion. 

Wichita Fire Department crews used a nearby canoe and were able to get the victims from the tree branches to a wooden dock that was covered with very swift moving water.  The wooden dock provided a temporary means of refuge and a platform to further extend rescue efforts.  This dock did provide some element of refuge, but was covered with 3-4 feet of cold and very swift moving water.

Wichita Fire crews were attempting to launch their boat to rescue the victims while Sedgwick County Squad 37 was assigned to launch their boat and go down stream to set up throw lines. Wichita Squad 4 was unable to launch their boat due to extremely muddy conditions and Command (WFD195) had Squad 37 move Boat 37 into the dock to remove the victims.  Sedgwick County Fire District #1 Water Rescue Team members Lieutenant Robert Ratzlaff and Firefighter Brad Broyles were able to maneuver their boat through swift, dangerous and debris filled water to the dock, secured the victims in the boat and successfully returned the victims to the shore.  They then returned to the dock and brought the WFD crew from the dock to the shore.  A crowd of 25 to 30 neighbors and on lookers had gathered at the scene and gave the rescuers a round of cheers and applause as the victims were delivered to the shore.  The victims were evaluated by Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS and found none of the victims had suffered any major injuries during their ordeal.

This type of rescue is extremely hazardous to both victims and rescuers. It is known that submerged debris, unpredictable undercurrents, cold water and the very swift moving water produces an environment which has killed many victims and rescuers. All these contributing factors were present during this incident. These factors, coupled with the fact that the Maize Street Bridge over the Cowskin creek was less than 100 yards from where the victims were found clinging to the trees, made for an unusually dangerous situation. Had any of the victims or rescuers been swept downstream during this rescue, the result would have been certain death.  Back up plans were established in case any of the victims or rescuers were swept away by providing, additional crews assigned to establish a downstream safety net at the bridge over the Cowskin creek and Maize Rd.  

---

Four Fire District #1 Staff Graduate from the Wichita State University MINI-MPA program

Pictured left to right, front row, Captain Tavis Leake, Division Chief Carl Cox, back row, Division Chief Terry Mauldin and Division Chief Eddie Fajardo.

The MiniMPA^sm provides executive development in public administration in a 16-week format. Participants met on Friday mornings for 3 hours sessions in September and October of 2008 and February, March, and April of 2009.  Faculty from Wichita State University's Master of Public Administration degree program use case studies, lectures, simulations, and problem-solving exercises for the student to build on their current skills to succeed within their organization.

---

Station 39 Groundbreaking

Sedgwick County Fire District #1 broke ground on the new station 39 on May 4.  The station will be located on 263rd St. W. between 31st St. S. and MacArthur Rd.

The station is scheduled for completion in February 2010 and will be a total of 9, 720 square feet.  The total cost will be $1,411,000.  The new station offers a potential savings of more than $500,000 a year in fire insurance premiums for people within a five-mile area.

   
 

---

Fire Education Clowns

The Fire Education Clowns teach fire safety through fun and humor, making certain the fire safety principles are clearly understood.

To date, the Fire Education Clowns have performed in many schools across the county and beyond, conveying the fire safety message to more than 6,000 kindergarten through fifth grade students.

This education program is offered to schools within the Sedgwick County Fire District. Teachers and school administrators are encouraged to contact Sedgwick County Fire District #1 at 660-3473 to request an appearance by the Education Clowns.

Click here to view additional photos.

---

ISO Property Protection Classes

The ISO Property Protection Class (PPC) program provides important, up-to-date information about municipal fire-protection services throughout the country. A community’s investment in fire mitigation is a proven and reliable predictor of future fire losses. So insurance companies use PPC information to help establish fair premiums for fire insurance — generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection.

The following list is the ISO Property Protection Class’s for cities within Sedgwick County Fire District #1.

City	Previous PPC			New PPC
Andale	3			3
Bel Aire	3			3
Bentley	4			4
Garden Plain	4			4
Goddard	4			4
Haysville	4			2
Kechi	4			3
Maize	4			3
Park City	4			3
Viola		9	6

Rural areas in Sedgwick County Fire District #1 are Classed as follows:

Rural areas without fire hydrants and within 5 miles of a qualifying fire station are a class 5 and were previously a class 9.

Rural areas over 5 miles of a qualifying fire station are a class 10 and were previously a class 10.

The Cities of Wichita, Valley Center, Mt. Hope, Cheney, Clearwater, Derby, and Mulvane will have their own classes and are outside of the Fire District.

---

Youth Fire Safety Intervention

Sedgwick County Fire Department, Sedgwick County Department of Corrections, Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, along with other community partners conduct a special program for youth who have shown an interest in playing with fire or have set fires. For more information about this program, call 655-7258.

---

Employment

Sedgwick County is now recruiting interested parties for the position of Firefighter with Sedgwick County Fire District #1 through the Kansas Fire Service Partnership.

---

Patch Requests

We have recently changed our policy to coincide with Sedgwick County's policy. Due to intelligence reports on possible terrorist attempts to gain fire and EMS uniforms, equipment and even vehicles, we will only trade patches with other local public safety or governmental agencies.

---

THE MISSION OF FIRE DISTRICT #1 IS….

To serve the public by protecting life and property, minimizing the impact of fire, and rapidly responding to medical emergencies, potential disasters or uncontrolled events that adversely affect the community and environment.