Great day to be a firefighter

“This station represents an important investment in essential neighborhood services,” LCFPD1 Chief Mike Marlo said. “We all know the growth of our county, and the City of Moscow Mills. Just in the last two months, Paramedic/Rescue/Pumper 6424 has responded to 210 calls for service.”

The station replaced the all-volunteer station built in the early-1970s, houses 24/7 career firefighters and is supported by volunteer staff. In addition, Station 2 includes two extended apparatus bays to allow a rescue pumper, a rescue tanker and a utility brush truck. 

The station also has a fitness room, five bunk rooms to house its firefighters, LED lighting and a highly-efficient mechanical system. It will also serve as a FEMA storm shelter during tornado season for residents and firefighters.

“Emergency responders deserve the highest standard of health and safety measures, and I am proud this new station will take their wellbeing into account,” Marlo said. “I look forward to many years of this firehouse serving as a place for our firefighters to live, train and bravely serve the residents of the Fire Protection District.”

Marlo also said the new station would not be possible had voters not approved Proposition Firefighters during the November elections in 2020, and the district has fulfilled its promises to citizens.

“I would like to thank the residents and businesses of Lincoln County for their support – and it was overwhelming support – for a half-cent capital improvement tax and a capital project bond,” Marlo said. “We hired new firefighters. We built a new station. 

“We did everything we said we would do.”

In other good news, LCFPD1, along with the Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District, were two of 428 agencies across the state that was approved for $6.3 million in grants for first-responders.

Each fire department could receive up to $20,000 in funding. LCFPD1 received $20,000 from the state, while WFFPD received $19,511.

“Meeting with first responders and traveling to disaster scenes across the state, we know how essential it is that these devoted public servants have the essential equipment and training they need to do their jobs,” Gov. Mike Parson said. “These grants mean law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel will be better equipped in performing their lifesaving work and protecting the public.”  

“This additional funding of more than $6.3 million can truly make a difference for local first-responder agencies,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “Developing these new grants and then working with the hundreds of diverse applicants was a major accomplishment for our Department of Public Safety grants team. 

“We greatly appreciate the team’s hard work and commitment.”

Marlo said his department used the funding, which was received through a 50% match with remaining American Relief Plan Act funds transferred through the state, to purchase turnout gear (boots, pants, coats, helmet).

“Our residents deserve this funding. The federal government finally made this money available for fire departments across the state,” he said. “The credit goes to Assistant Chief Robert Shramek. It takes a lot of paperwork to get this done.”

WFFPD used the funding on vehicle extraction equipment, including the “Jaws of Life.”

“That will outfit three trucks at Station 4 on Highway Y and Station 3 on Highway 47. It gives us more versatility,” WFFPD Chief Arron Lee said. “If we have an accident in one area, and we have an accident in another area, we have sufficient tools to handle multiple accidents at once.”

Nevertheless, both chiefs agreed the current grant system leaves smaller fire protection districts at a disadvantage, and changes need to be made.

“Some of our more rural districts have budgets that don’t come even close to (meeting the 50% match),” Marlo said. “I hope more departments can participate in the future, but right now, this is how it is.”

“The problem is you have to spend the money first, then get reimbursed,” Shramek said. “For smaller departments, they may not have the money to do that.”

Lee said his department has been fortunate to be able to participate in the grant funding, but agrees changes need to be made.

“We have been good stewards of taxpayer dollars. We have been very frugal over the years, and we were fortunate enough to make the purchase,” he said. “The 50-50 match is difficult for smaller departments to apply for.

“It’s difficult to write grants, and some of it is mind-numbing. You have to word things just right to receive funding.”