STURGIS — Meade County firefighters and the Meade County Commission are working on a plan that would allow the use of county equipment in the event they are needed during a large wildfire.
Rural firefighters met with commissioners this week, asking for some sort of an agreement to help make it easier to call upon the county’s highway department staff in case the heavy equipment is needed.
Bob Young, President of the Meade County Firefighters Association, said that in the past, the county has allowed its staff to assist volunteer fire departments with heavy equipment to cut fire lines during big fires.
The request follows large fires this spring, including one in Perkins County that burned over 8,000 acres.
Commissioners want to make sure the county would incur no liability. Meade County’s Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Ken Chleborad does not believe that would be an issue if the staff were working under the direction of whoever is in charge – such as an incident commander.
The county plans to work with the firefighters to come up with an agreement that would clearly outline the process for firefighters to request the county’s assistance on catastrophic fires.
They plan to take up the issue again at their next April meeting.
