Sarcoxie mayor addresses fire department concerns

(From Sarcoxie Mayor Don Triplett)

I’m writing this to address some questions and concerns that have been recently raised about increased activity at our fire station. Sometimes it is real easy to let challenges and drama cause us to miss successes and things that are working very well. That in mind, I want to give a shout out to the Sarcoxie Fire Department for a significant accomplishment.

When Chief Carnes was appointed Fire Chief, he was tasked with the priorities of increasing the number of volunteer firefighters, achieving a 98% response rate for calls and to increase participation in training activities. 

These were no small tasks. Like most volunteer departments, we have struggled the last few decades with each of these measurables. At a national level, the number of volunteer firefighters is at a 35 year low while the number of requests for service have doubled or even tripled.

Part of Chief Carnes’ strategy to meet these priorities has been to encourage activities at the department that include family members. Birthday parties, movie nights, group cookouts are now not uncommon occurrences at the fire station. He has allowed volunteers a bay door at times to allow space to work on personal vehicle, lawn mowers, etc. 

 A small pool was recently set up to allow volunteers and family members a place to cool off and splash around a bit. Elected officials have long supported such activities and have gone so far as to set up a pool table and exercise equipment at the station in years past. None of these activities jeopardize the department’s ability to respond to calls. 

 Quite the opposite, this flexibility and creativity ensures that personnel are available for immediate response. Being at the station when a call comes in shaves minutes off of response times. For a cardiac event or traumatic injury, two or three minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Starting shortly after Mercy stopped staffing an ambulance at the station, Chief Carnes started allowing personnel to stay overnight to be “on-duty” for 24 hour blocks. This has proven so popular, they now have to take turns doing this. Along with this, you will likely see members of the department out and about in official vehicles.

I know this is way different than what we are all used to seeing and it may initially shock the conscience of traditionalists. Between these initiatives and other programs approved by elected officials, we are realizing some significant results that greatly benefit all of us. 

As noted in this week’s Sarcoxie Record, Chief Carnes recently reported the department had not missed a call in a bit over 22 months. To add more to that, the department is maxed out at 20 volunteers, has shrunk its response time by over two minutes per call, and training participation has increased to over 75%.

Not all initiatives have been fully successful or without some hiccups along the way. We are in new territory here after all. With that, adjustments and corrections will be made as we keep moving forward. We cannot lose sight of the goal of having a department of trained volunteers to meet the needs of our city and to ensure our citizens get the prompt emergency response they deserve.

That all being said, I congratulate and thank Chief Carnes, the officers, firefighters and first responders of the department. As volunteers, you are here for our community and ready to respond to any emergency. It doesn’t matter if it is a fire, car wreck, medical emergency, or a host of other crisis situations. When someone in our city is quite possibly having the worst day of their life, you are there to help.

I also want to thank your family members. A lot of folks don’t understand or appreciate the sacrifice and patience required of spouses, parents and children in supporting their volunteer firefighter or first responder. Family members know that most calls are perfectly safe but any given call can put their loved one in mortal danger. Even fewer people understand how hard it can be for emergency responders to process and go back to their normal lives after particularly gruesome or traumatic calls. Family members know.

Additionally, I want to give a sincere thank you to past chiefs and leaders of the department who, over the years, have influenced the department in ways that help make today’s department possible. Without you, we would not have been able to improve our ISO rating from a 7 to a 5 in the last few years.

Please don’t hesitate to contact any elected official if you have questions or are curious about fire department operations. Even better, feel free to stop in the station and have a tour or ask questions. If you are interested in being on the fire department, you can always get an application. Just be prepared to join a growing waiting list of applicants.

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