Out of State firefighting

I just learned that over the weekend Stafford County sent fire units to oklahoma to help fight a fire. I was just curious as to why this took place? Why couldnt some of the hundreds of other fire departments between here and there have gone? It seems to me that there were some bad decisoins made in doing this. I do not claim to know alot about firefighting but I do look at the weather forecasts and happen to know that the day this took place Stafford Co. was listed as being in extreme fire danger! So under those circumstances why send valuable resources clear out of state? especially since the fire department tries to say that they are very understaffed and in need of trucks and equipment. I think the department should focus on fixing everything that is still wrong with its services to its own community before it tries to go help somebody else, especially when the somebody else is out of state. If you have answers please let me know, I was just curious.

The hoopla about the Fire Dept. being under staffed is not true. There is currently around 60 some firefighter on the county roster and as far as equipment the dept. has more than enough. Granted some of the equipment is in need of replacement, but they can only spend so much without exhausting the years budget. I'm sure it is tough having to provide for 7 stations in the county some having more equipment than active people. As for sending help to another community, it was not a bad move. The time of day that it happened was close enough to night fall that the weather was going to start to recover, the temps were going to start falling and the humidities were going to be rising. By only sending two small trucks the county was in no danger of being short staffed or short on equipment. The person that made the decision did say that if they were put in that situation again that they would be more reluctant in sending help that far, but at the same time if this county had a disaster like that we would like to see the same response from other agencies in our time of need.

I understand sending help to other communities, but not another state. especially when the only reason Stafford County was asked to come was because the fire that day was in the area that the "stand in chief" is from. As far as 2 units being gone not hurting the county, you must understand some other factors that played into that. First, St. John only has 1 brush truck, and one pumper. The pumper is incapable of going offroad to fight a brushfire, which is where the fire danger is mostly. So by taking St. john's brush truck to oklahoma that left NO fire protection in the St. John area. So a brush fire breaking out in St. John's response area on a day listed as a "red flag warning" puts peoples homes at risk of being caught in the way of an out of control wildfire before help could make it the 15 minutes from the closest neighboring station. Secondly, I was told that of the units the Fire dept. has, 4 units are broken down and unable to respond, so that make 6 units missing from the county fleet when added to the 2 sent to oklahoma. Yes, the department has 60 people listed on the "roster" but take into account the people that are refusing to respond because of the fact that they feel the old chief was unfairly taken out of his position and you barely have enough people to fill what trucks are in the county and in working condition. Lastly, I would like to see proof that all departments between Stafford county and oklahoma had been sent to help at the fire that day and that Stafford county was truly the next closest to go. Everybody diserves help, but the rsponsibility is to ones own community first. I was told the calls came out around 3:30 which is still very much daylight and the humidity issue should have been thought of in the aspect that it would slow or stop the fire in oklahoma enough for crews there to get the upper hand. I completely agree with "curious's" comments. This was a neglegent decision that put people at risk in Stafford county.

We could go all day long asking "what if" until we are blue in the face. As Wilson said, if it happend again Stafford County probably wouldn't be sending anymore that far away.(By the way, the location was changed while in route, which made them go farther than expected) I would personally want reinforcements if a 11,000+ acre wilfire ever broke out on my land. You help your neighbors when they ask for it! A teletype was sent to dispatch from the county in need for for ALL available personnel to respond to wildfires just across the state line. At no time was the county safety compromised! There were plenty of people available to staff equipment. From what I understand the crew did not even leave until 5:00 after all factors were evaluated and the top peroson on the chain of command was notified. There were no ties to the "stand in chief" Lets get something clear if people are not responding because their friend got their feelings hurt then they they aren't in the fire business for the right reasons anyway! Who are they working for their fellow man or the person no longer in charge. This kind of crap is what gives Stafford County a bad name.

As not buying it said, the county WAS left 6 trucks down by sending those units. That information comes directly from the inside. What gives your county a bad name is the inability for those in charge to realize that the members of the county DO NOT trust emergency services for the choices that have been made and are still being made. The county is the laughing stock of the state, go anywhere and ask if people have heard about all the stuff that has happened there in the past year and see how they act. News of your county's actions have reached clear into other states. If it was only a case of helping a neighbor in need then where was your county when the huge fire broke out in my community last year? I believe that fire was much larger, and a lot closer. I think maybe one question curious should have asked is....Why does a county that has a total population of MAYBE 5000 people need full time emergency personel? There are numerous communities that are much larger that still have volunteer only services. They seem to do a much more competent job then your Stafford county does with full time services.

I am an outsider looking in but have close ties to the area (in several different parts of the county). It is a shame that there is so much complaining. Can't we all get along?
I agree that Stafford County has gotten a bad name but only because of the personal life of a few have gotten in the way. The ideas they had were working and from what I hear an improvement to the departments, although many thought otherwise because they opposed changes/updates. It was said by a few that they resented them as a person before they ever started! How can that work?
Per a conversation with our local board, it is next to impossible to qualify for state or federal aid/grants if certain regulations are not met. Much of the grant writing and regulations take time and CHANGE...which apparently people are unwilling to give.
I also live in a small town and if you let politics control you life, which sounds like many do, then there is going to be nothing but tension and animosity between everyone. Aren't you suppose to be a team and work as one? Sounds like you are divided! Why do you sweat the small stuff? Just do your job and forget about the rest. Sounds like tooooo many are emotionally involved with the political aspect and not their duty.
I am not positive but last time I checked there were budget issues going on for everybody. I remember reading somewhere that it takes money for vehichle maintainance. It was my understanding that the budget was spent for last year therefor many maintance items had to wait until after the first of the year. The time is here and, per a conversation with a local mechanic, maintance has already been scheduled. All things take time...something people are not willing to give! All they seem to have time for is (like won't happen again said earlier) stirring up trouble.
As for a response to not buying it's issue with the full time emergency personnel. It is unfortunate that your county still only has volunteers. Perhaps that is why you don't understand what goes into the full time jobs. I think you need to know that they do many behind the scene thins that people don't aways hear about or see like runs, transfers, paperwork, maintaninace, cleaning, answereing phones, inventroy & data entry (just to name a few that were expressed to me) is done by the few full timers that serve the entire county during the workday. I hope there is never a time that your loved one gets injured and there are no volunteers to respond because everyone has a fulltime job that pays better then the emergency services. It's a shame it comes down to money because I am sure many would like to help a friend/neighbor more than go to a full time job but with our economy you have to look out for what is best for you and the ones you take care of.
If there are so many out there that think they can "fix" stafford county's problmes..why didn't you apply for the Director's position? U not qualified? U just like to talk and not act on it? U scared people that like to complain and stir up trouble might get you fired?

I have tried to stay out of the rants that have taken place on here, but due to some comments feel it necessary to say something now. I used to work for Stafford County emergency services, and due to my circumstances feel that if anybody should have a reason to try and cause problems it should be me. BUT, I am writting to try and defend a service that has come under severe scrutiny for others mistakes. I cannot begin to understand how hard it must be to be thrown into the position that some people have been thrown into. The former directors have put so much distrust in fire/ems that those left to run it when they are gone are bombarded by complaints and hatred that should not be aimed at them. Those left in charge are making extremely difficult decisions under ordinarily stressful situations but add to that they have to try and make everybody happy and it makes those decisions 10 times more difficult! Those fire/ems personnel that are full-timers are doing the absolute best they can given the circumstances. The turmoil in this county in the past year has brought attention to the service that ordinarilly wouldnt be there and as so makes it much easier to pick out the smallest thing and turn it into something huge. Not Buying It, If this is not your county it isnt any of your concern and you deffinately dont need to be trying to cause problems for those involved. Stay out of it. I can honestly say that in the year gone by that I hold not ill feelings towards most of the people in this community and I am the only person here that has the right to have any in the first place. Loosen up people and give those working to help you the chance to fix the problems and improve the service before you go and start tearing apart everything they try to do.

Loosen up is from stafford county, and proud of it! Not Hot Springs like it says.