Columbus Fire and Rescue Department is located in the Columbus City Hall building at 300 East Maple,  Columbus, Kansas.  The department consists of 24 members: four full time members and 20 volunteers. 

The Columbus Fire and Rescue Department is led by Fire Chief Don Kirk who has 29 years of fire fighting and administrative experience.  Assistant Chief Brad Gleason has been with the department  for 19 years; and Captains Kyle Keely and Jason Allison have both been active in the department for 18 years.  We presently have several members who are certified Firefighter I.  Our goal within the department is to have all members certified as Firefighter I by the end of 2007.

Our department recently received an ISO rating of four.  This ISO rating or Insurance Services Organization rating is used by insurance companies to determine fire insurance rates for industry, business, and residential policies.  ISO collects information on municipal fire protection efforts in communities throughout the United States.  In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS).  They then assign a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10.  Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire suppression program doesn’t meet ISO’s minimum criteria.  Our department’s rating of four is the lowest rating among the departments in Cherokee County.

Our equipment includes  three 1500 gallon per minute (GPM) pumper trucks; one 750 GPM-1800 gallon pumper/tanker truck; one 3000 gallon tanker truck; four FWD grass trucks; one rescue truck; one light and air truck.

The light and air truck has a portable cascade system for refilling air bottles on scene and a generator to provide scene lighting.  The rescue truck carries the Jaws of Life tools for automobile extrication.  It is also equipped with a portable airbag system used to lift vehicles, and all necessary equipment used for patient extrication at accident scenes.

Our department is responsible for fire protection for the city of Columbus as well as townships of Crawford, Lola, Lyons, Mineral Salamanaca, Sheridan,  Our territory consists of approximately 260 square miles.  We average 350 runs per year which includes responses to structure fires, grass fires, ambulance assists and vehicle extrication.  We also have mutual aid agreements with ten area fire departments to give or receive aid in the event of a major incident.

We are especially proud of our annual fire prevention efforts with the local school children and day care centers.  Each October, our volunteer department provides a fire prevention education program to approximately 800 children.  The educational materials given to the children are provided through donations from area businesses, civic groups, churches and individuals.  In 2005, the department acquired a forty foot fire prevention mobile classroom trailer by applying for a federal grant from the Homeland Security Department.  It is equipped with audio video equipment, bedroom area, kitchen area, smoke machine capable of simulating a house fire.  The kitchen area is used to teach household fire safety, while the bedroom area is used to teach fire exit drills in the home.

In 2007, we will install a 175 KW generator system at the Columbus City Hall which will power the administration, police and fire departments as well as the Columbus community building in the event of a power outage.  The value of this equipment is approximately $60,000 and was acquired through a grant written by our department and provided by the Homeland Security Department.