Emergency Services Washington, Kansas


Emergency Services Building
 

The City of Washington is pleased to announce construction is complete on our new, state-of-the-art Emergency Services Building, which houses Washington Fire Department, Washington Rural Fire District #9, and Washington Emergency Medical Services.  The building is located at 900 D Street, one block south of U.S. Highway 36.  The materials for this building were funded through a KanStep grant, received through the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing. All of the labor,  from the dirt work to the flooring, from the red iron work to applying the last coat of paint,  was donated by volunteers.  Volunteers who gave of their  knowledge and expertise, and most of all their time, without which this project could not have been completed.  The City of Washington  is grateful to the hundreds of volunteers, who donated 11,888 hours of labor, as well as countless meals and snacks.   This facility is a wonderful addition to our community.


Washington Fire Department, Rural Fire District #9, and Washington EMS moved in to their new home in this Emergency Services Building in March 2005, which includes training rooms, a full kitchen, storage space, restrooms, 8 fire bays and 2 EMS bays.

The new building is the result of a lot of hard work and dedication by the community to address a specific need.  The building the fire departments were housed in was approximately 30x50, and was too small to allow adequate and efficient access to their equipment in times of emergency.  According to former Washington City Fire Chief Delwin Wiemers, the fire departments are also in need of additional trucks, which would help to lower the City's insurance rating.  The departments have applied for and been denied grants in the past because there was not adequate space available to store and protect any additional trucks and equipment.  The old building also lacked additional space for meetings or on-site training, and had no restroom facilities.  The new building has solved all of these issues.  It has  additional space, which will allow for both fire departments and the ambulance service to store their equipment in a more accessible manner,  as well as space for meetings and training, and restroom facilities.  When discussing the needs of the fire department, Wiemers commented, "We are not only looking to solve our current issues, we are building for the future."  

In 2002, with the help of the North Central Regional Planning Commission, the City of Washington applied for a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant under the KanStep category, which is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing.  Washington City Administrator Tim Schook received the news that Washington had been awarded the grant on Monday, March 31, 2003.  The grant totals $367,614.00, and does not require a local funding match.  It does require a match of volunteer labor totaling 40% of the project, which amounts to $213,370.00.

To schedule a tour of the new facility, please contact Caroline Yungeberg at 785-325-2284 or via email at washems@washingtonks.net.

Emergency Medical Services

City of Washington Emergency Medical Service provides ambulance service to the citizens of the City of Washington and surrounding areas. Dedicated volunteers provide emergency medical service response under the supervision of Service Director Leland Cook, EMT-I,TO-1 and Assistant Director Meyler Gibbs, EMT-B.  Washington EMS currently has two First Responders;  six Emergency Medical Technician-Basics (EMT-B);  and four Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediates (EMT-I).

The ambulance service owns and operates two Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, with one ambulance staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.    The ambulance service provides emergency medical service response, and also provides scheduled standby at local area high school football games and other sporting events. 

For more information on the City of Washington EMS,  please contact Caroline at 785-325-2284.
 

Emergency Medical Services

 

Fire and rescue services are provided to the citizens of Washington by the Washington City Fire Department and outlying townships by Washington Rural Fire District #9.  These services also provide mutual aid to other area services when requested.  These services combined are comprised of volunteer men and women who devote their time and expertise to protecting our community.  The Washington City Fire Department is headed by Fire Chief Mike Hattesohl, and Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Welch.  Washington Rural Fire District #9 is headed by Fire Chief Jerry Alldredge, and Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Bolejack.  The fire  departments currently utilize three fire trucks, one tanker truck, and one rescue truck.

If you are interested in learning how to become a member of the fire department, contact a firefighter.  The departments meet the second Monday of every month, and attendance at the meetings is required unless excused.