Kansas

Rural Kansas towns face elevated fire risk, struggles to find volunteer firefighters

Published

2 years ago

October 10, 2022

Rural Kansas towns face elevated fire risk, struggles to find volunteer firefighters

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Rural cities throughout Kansas face continued drought situations compounded by a priority with an absence of obtainable firefighters.

The small neighborhood of Paradise has seen firsthand how unhealthy an emergency fireplace state of affairs can get and the way priceless volunteer firefighters are. Final December, a fireplace devastated the city. With help from volunteers from outdoors the neighborhood, they have been capable of put it out.

“The help that got here that day and the times and weeks following was phenomenal,” mentioned Volunteer firefighter Todd Schneider. “I couldn’t consider the quantity of vehicles that confirmed as much as save us, principally.”

Now, Paradise is amongst communities needing extra of its personal volunteers.

“There’s not lots of people in our space, and discovering those that wish to try this, it’s robust to do,” Schneider mentioned.

Some that may assist don’t have the time to dedicate to turning into a volunteer firefighter.

“After I ask folks in the event that they’d take into account (volunteering) for the hearth division, I get, ‘we’re too busy,’ you already know, excuses like that,” Russell and Ellsworth County Emergency Administration Director Keith Haberer mentioned.

The dearth of volunteers makes it troublesome for fireplace departments to at all times be staffed.

“Most of our guys on this space are farming or are ranchers, and right this moment I talked to the hearth chief from Paradise right here and he’s out on the swather,” Haberer mentioned.

He mentioned volunteering is “all about neighborhood service.”

“In the event you actually wish to be concerned in your neighborhood, you’d cease and be a volunteer and assist out,” Haberer mentioned.

He mentioned stepping as much as be a volunteer firefighter begins with the straightforward step of contacting your native fireplace division.

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Related Topics:Drought Featured kansas Paradise rural fire departments Russell County volunteer firefighters

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Kansas

Kansas City-area hospitals respond to fireworks injuries

Published

5 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

Kansas City-area hospitals respond to fireworks injuries

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hospitals in the Kansas City area are reporting fireworks-related injuries on Independence Day.

The University of Kansas Health System says it’s treated six patients injured by fireworks as of 3 p.m. Thursday.

The hospital says most of the injuries were located on the patients’ hands and face, and were most commonly caused by firecrackers, smoke bombs and mortars.

The patients ranged in age from 12 to 73 years old.

Since Monday, Children’s Mercy has treated three patients who were injured by fireworks.

Two of the patients injured their hands, while the third suffered an eye injury. All three individuals were teenagers.

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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.

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Kansas

High floods in metro area, KCFD makes several water rescues amid rain storms

Published

13 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

High floods in metro area, KCFD makes several water rescues amid rain storms

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Fire Department made several water rescues early Thursday morning after rain storms hit the metro area.

Seven unhoused individuals near Little Blue River at MLK and Hardesty were caught in the water. Around 5:30 a.m., KCFD reported two had been rescued and were continuing to work the banks and water.

Around the same time, there was another report of an individual being caught in the water at Cleaver and Oak.

Later, dangerous high waters in the area of Raytown Road near the stadiums were reported.

A flash flood warning alert was put in place by the National Weather Service until 8:15 a.m.

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