NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Progress is continuing in the process of hiring a Reno County fire administrator.
"The fire administrator position closed early in February," said Reno County Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar. "We actually completed interviews on it the past two Fridays. We should be hiring that position very soon."
Weishaar was clear this isn't about replacing the fire district chiefs. It's about helping them.
"Inside of Reno County, we have eight rural fire districts," Weishaar said. "Currently, they kind of run individually. The goal of this person is to be a fire professional and try to get each one of these eight districts on the same sheet of music. Essentially, running some of the same standard operating procedures, ordering the same equipment, the same personal protective gear, etc."
This has been in the works since the study of the rural fire districts came back last year. There are a lot of local candidates to choose from.
"We had nine total applicants for the position," Weishaar said. "Of those, I believe about half of them were local. The only interviews we conducted were of local candidates."
It's going to be vital that the hire is very willing to work together with the district chiefs and their volunteers.
"This person has to have the right personality, where they are working with these fire chiefs as a peer," Weishaar said. "That way, they can start building those teams and they can encourage training, just making sure everyone's pulling in the same direction."
A specific start date for the hire will not be announced until the choice is approved by the county commission.