The Missouri State Fair Volunteer Fire Department (MSFVFD) staff this year consisted of 107 members of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri. 61 departments have allowed their members time off for vacation so they can serve with our department. We have a mix of 30% females to 70% males on our staff. We are the only known fire department that forms for an event each year. We own no equipment to operate with. We have FFAM member departments and vendors that supply all our equipment. This year we operated 4 engines, 3 squads, 1 tanker, 5 ambulances, and 9 UTVs. Due to the crowds on the grounds, we used the smaller vehicles for access during the calls and limited the engines to fire calls and standby for the events. We had 30-plus departments that were supplying the equipment and supplies in the apparatus and our first aid.
The MO-DMAT 1 team deployed here this year to assist with the medical needs of anyone on the fairgrounds. They have medical care similar to an urgent care open from 10:00 to 22:00 daily to help relieve the local hospital resources. They use this as a training opportunity for their staff to deploy and train when they would deploy for a disaster. Providing care on the fairgrounds also helps the MSFVFD be more productive as it shortens the time for care to the patient and we do not have to transport off the fairgrounds to the Bothwell Hospital. Our care is also provided to the patients at no cost to them on the fairgrounds.
MO-Cares and Central Jackson County Fire Protection District attended the first weekend to train in CPR and AED for fair attendees so if they need to use the skills, they will be educated. The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office has a display at the firehouse for fire safety and education. Missouri 911 has a booth to educate about when to call and some of the challenges of the organization. MU Air Medical Services gave a classroom presentation and landed a helicopter on the fairgrounds to demonstrate landing zone safety and procedures. The Missouri Electrical Cooperatives organization conducted two live power line demonstrations to show electrical safety. The Kansas Fire Marshal’s office supplied a sprinkler demonstration trailer to show the value for use in homes. MU FRTI Director Harry Ward did two live fire demonstrations of why you should close your doors at home to prevent fire from spreading in the home. Our crews have the chance to do live fire evolutions in the Southern Stone Fire Protection District trailer during the fair. We did a trash container fire with their prop also during the fair. The Johnson County Fire Protection District supplied a car fire prop and forcible entry prop for the crews to train with.
Here are the vendors and departments that helped in the fire department operations with equipment, donations of supplies, food and funds: Nold Bryant, Schulenburg Contracting, Don’s Towing, Woods Grocery, Missouri Cattleman’s Association, Missouri Pork Producers Association, Rose Acres Farms, Burgers Smokehouse, Central Dairy, Mr. Dell, WinCup, Concordia FPD, Higginsville FPD, Lees Summit Fire Department, Nestle’, Missouri 811, John & Brenda Hoselton, Trenton Coca Cola, Pettis County Paramedics and EMT’s Union Members IAFF Local 5229,Wheeler Auction, Pepsi, Coca-Cola Sedalia, Tyson, Don & Linda North, Show Me GIS, Accelerant, Ferrell Propane, Dr. David Gustafson, Zoll Medical, Stryker Medical, Randolph County Ambulance District, Pettis County Ambulance District, Wellington-Napolean FPD, Audrain Ambulance district, Union Ambulance District, Ray County Ambulance District, Chillicothe FD, Johnson County Ambulance District, Johnson County FPD, Sullivan Fire Department, Southern Randolph, Warrensburg Fire Department, Holt FPD, Mid-County FPD, Eureka FPD, Central Platte FPD, Cosby-Helena FPD, Alex Air, Gas Technologies, Feld Fire, Jons Mid-America, Dingies Fire, Banner Fire, MES Fire, Remmers Design, Triumph Foods, Johnson County Ambulance District Training Center, MU Air Medical Services, LifeFlight Eagle, MTA EMS/Rescue, Chariton County Ambulance District, MFA Oil.
We appreciate all the support from all the members who helped throughout the year to make this unique fire department successful.
FFAM
