Hays Fire Department
City of Hays Fire Department 2014 Activity Report
The mission of the City of Hays Fire Department is to protect the lives and economic well-being of the people of Hays from the effects of fires, accidents and related emergencies.
In addition to protecting the city, the City of Hays Fire Department operates the state regional building collapse/special rescue team. The rescue team is staffed jointly with qualified firefighters from the Ellis, Victoria and Rural fire departments.
In 2014, City of Hays firefighters:
· Responded to 2,085 emergency and urgent calls-for-service; an average of six calls for service each day.
· Arrived on the scene of 90% of all calls-for-service within eight-minutes of the call for help received by the dispatchers.
· Completed an average of 370 hours of training for each career and volunteer firefighter.
· Conducted 1,021 fire hydrant inspections to be sure they are ready for use.
· Completed or updated pre-emergency plans on 332 buildings.
· Conducted 934 fire safety inspections or reinspections in 440 buildings.
To provide this service:
· Five firefighters are on-duty at the Main Street fire station staffing two fire trucks.
· One additional firefighter is on-duty at the airport fire station staffing one airport fire truck during the times of air passenger flight operations.
· Off-duty career and volunteer firefighters are called to respond and staff three additional fire trucks for building fires and other serious emergencies.
Hays firefighters are highly trained “all-hazard” responders.
· Hays career firefighters are required to complete a four-year course of training based on national standards for advanced firefighter, emergency medical technician, fire truck operator, airport firefighter, hazardous materials operations and rescue operations.
· Volunteer firefighters qualify as basic firefighter, emergency medical technician, hazardous materials operations and rescue operations.
· Fire lieutenants qualify as basic fire inspectors, fire training instructors and fire officers and complete a six week course of study in fire service management at the National Fire Academy.
· Fire captains qualify as advanced fire officers and complete the University of Kansas Certified Public Manager program.
For property insurance purposes the City of Hays is rated as public fire protection class 3 on a scale of one to ten. This places Hays in the top 7% of communities nationwide and the top 5% in Kansas.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives! Hays firefighters will assist citizens in installing, testing and changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are available at no cost for individuals and families who cannot afford this protection. Call 628-7330 for help with your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
Ride along with your firefighters. Hays firefighters invite citizens to spend some time “on-duty” observing the work of the fire department. Call (785)-628-7330 for more information.