STURGIS, S.D. – The Meade County Commission on Tuesday approved an agreement with rural Meade County firefighters to use county equipment if needed in fighting a large wildfire.
Rural firefighters had approached the commission with their request last month in hopes of making it easier to call upon the county’s highway department staff in case the heavy equipment is needed.
In the past, the county had allowed its staff to assist volunteer fire departments with heavy equipment to cut fire lines during a wildfire.
Commissioners wanted to make sure the county would incur no liability and heard back from the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance that they saw no issue with the county’s highway department responding to the calls for service.
Brad Wilson told commissioners that from a workers comp perspective, there are no coverage issues for highway department employees performing this duty if the county commissioners are aware of this mutual aid and do not directly prohibit it.
He says the activities fall within the scope of the highway department duties and a work related injury to the highway department employees generally will be compensable.
The possibility of a dry summer has stoked the fears of area firefighters, who worry about possible large fires.
There have already been several large fires this spring, including one that scorched 8,000 acres in Perkins County.
