Proposed Kan. Fire Station Has Rooms for EMS Students
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Sept. 06--BURRTON -- A proposed new firefighting-emergency medical services station in Burrton for an all-volunteer district could include six residential apartments.
" 'Why, on God's green earth, would we need living quarters when nobody is going to be staying here?' " was fire board chairman Rodney Redinger's initial reaction to the proposal.
After hearing the reasons, though, he concluded it made a lot of sense.
The apartments would be available for students in Hutchinson Community College's Fire Science Training program. Students could live at the station, assist on fire and EMS calls, and graduate from HCC with experience.
An added benefit, Redinger said, would be the students' exposure to Burrton. People who may not have considered moving to Burrton "will see a small town with a good school," he said.
Burrton Consolidated Fire District No. 5 serves Burrton, rural areas in Harvey County and approximately the southern two-thirds of Reno County's Valley Township. The fire district took over the EMS operation in Burrton last year, and there are approximately 100 EMS calls and 60 fire calls a year.
The proposed building would put firefighting and EMS functions and equipment under one roof in Burrton. The building also would provide the extra space needed for in-house training, according to Rusty Walter, deputy chief of EMS.
Like many rural volunteer fire/EMS departments, Burrton Consolidated Fire District No. 5 has a need for volunteers, Walter said.
The idea of housing students who double as volunteers has been used in other places, including on the East and West coasts, Walter said. Some districts charge low-cost rent; others don't charge anything, he said.
"We haven't got that far," Walter said, regarding rental prices.
Halstead's fire/EMS operation is "doing something similar," Walter said. That operation, with some paid staff, is constructing a station that could accommodate Hutchinson Community College students.
The estimated $1.2 million project in Burrton would be funded by a 15-year general obligation bond issue, under tentative plans. It would boost the mill levy by another 1.5 mills, making the overall levy roughly 7.5 mills, Walter said.
If the fire board approves a resolution, plans for a bond issue will proceed. There would be a 60-day protest petition period, allowing citizens to request an election.
Recently, Walter informed the Reno County and Harvey County commissioners about the fire district's plans, including the residential apartments.
"Very innovative," praised Reno County Commissioner Dan Deming.
Walter said there has been "outstanding support" for the proposed new station.
Several sites, including one location just south of U.S. 50 on Burrton's east side, are possibilities for the station, Walter said. The station could be constructed as early as spring 2012, he said.
