Fire official says turnout gear, SCBA upgrades drive fire budget increase; volunteers top 100

Randall, the county’s fire representative, told the commissioners the fire department’s 2027 request is roughly 8% higher than the prior year, driven by rising maintenance costs, workers’ compensation and replacement of personal protective equipment.

Randall said new turnout gear — coats, pants and helmets — costs about $3,500 per person and that many existing sets are approaching a 10‑year service life after which NFPA guidance recommends removal from frontline use. “If somebody gets hurt in a pair of them and they're over 10 years old, we're going to pay,” he said.

The department reported about 115–120 volunteers countywide and said volunteer recruitment remains a concern as older members retire. Randall also described a recent equipment upgrade: two air compressors for filling SCBA bottles cost $93,615 for both units, and the department is replacing aging compressors and bottles as parts become scarce for older models.

Why it matters: Volunteer fire companies provide primary response in much of Coffey County. Equipment lifecycles, training and replacement costs are driving capital needs for the county budget.

Randall said some upgrades were phased through stations 6 and 7 and that future purchases would focus on other stations still using older components. He described potential efficiencies from staged purchases and thanked county staff for helping coordinate equipment funding and radio purchases.

Next steps: Commissioners accepted the update and will consider the fire budget as part of the overall preliminary budget review with the auditor next week.