KINGSTON - The Kingston Volunteer Fire Department is working hard to decrease its ISO (Insurance Services Office) fire protection rating from 10 to eight, a number which could see an estimated decrease in homeowners' insurance of up to 40 percent, said Assistant Fire Chief Bradley Ward.
The 12 volunteers train monthly and sometimes more often. The department started an aggressive training program in January. Ward is hoping to see the number of volunteers increase to 15 by year's end, he said.
"I've got a very enthusiastic team and they are all about pursuing training and being safe," Ward said.
County Safety Manager Keith Westengard is currently working with the state fire marshal's office in getting extrication and mandatory hazardous materials training for both the Kingston and Austin departments.
The department has three engines - a structure engine, which is for structure fires, a brush truck for wildland fires and a small fast attack engine, which is a multi-purpose engine. The structure truck is only two-wheel drive and cannot be driven in snow or mud.
The department also has a two-wheel drive water tender that is kept outside and is essentially inoperable during the winter months.
The department covers 500 square miles through mutual aid agreements with other departments and entities and responds to wildfires, medical calls, vehicle accidents and house fires.
"I think, especially being remote, it is essential that we have a local service because response times from other areas are by nature very long," Ward said.
Funding has long been an issue for the fire department which needs an annual budget of around $40,000 to properly maintain its equipment, pay operational expenses and conduct ongoing training, Ward said.
"The existing levels of funding have just basically been keeping the lights on," he added.
The fire department's two annual fundraising events, a St. Patrick's Day dinner and a summer picnic, usually bring in around $10,000. The department usually gets $8,000 from the town of Kingston, with $500 having to go toward the Department of Taxation for auditing.
In January, Lander County commissioners approved for the county to fund $4,000 in immunizations for the firefighters, which included hepatitis a-b, tetanus and tuberculosis.
The department also got approved for $50,000 from the Lander County Safety Committee for personal protective equipment for structure and wildland fires. The money granted is to be shared by both Austin and Kingston.
The county also granted at their March 13 budget workshop $14,661 to go toward the personal protective equipment as well as self-contained breathing apparatus in July. Kingston's personal protective equipment has a 10-year fire protection rating and dates back to the 1980s and 90s, Ward said.
Pending legal review, a grant request for $4,100 was also approved by commissioners at the county budget workshop to be applied toward the department's workers' insurance costs in FY 2013-14.
Ward has also solicited donations from Battle Mountain General Hospital and Round Mountain Gold Corporation. He said Round Mountain Gold has already been a supporter of the fire department for several years in donating food and raffle prizes to the fundraising events.
Ward said the department is also asking for $18,500 from the town of Kingston to be decided at the March 25 town board meeting.
Ward mentioned that the department wants to be a part of the solution to the problem of a lack of EMS service in southern Lander County. He said it is working toward becoming a fire and rescue department to be complementary to the Lander County Ambulance Service.
Jerry Simoni, of Kingston, is the fire chief and Adam Greenfield, of Austin, is the other assistant fire chief. The department has 13 auxiliary members.
"Volunteerism is not dead in Kingston," Ward added.
This year, the fire department's annual picnic will be held Aug. 3 and it will be held in conjunction with Kingston's 150th anniversary celebration.
The event will include a barbecue lunch, raffles, auctions, bingo, a dinner and possibly a live band.
Those who would like to donate funds to the department can contact Ward at (775) 964-1034 or visit the department's website at www.kingstonfire.org. The website was set up in August 2012. Those who would like to volunteer as firefighters can also call Ward.
[[In-content Ad]]
