By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ironically, the Cottonwood Complex fire comes on the fifth anniversary of the Highlands fire that swept through the northern part of Reno County. That fire brought changes to the way Hutchinson Fire operates and reacts to those fires. While things have improved, there is still more that needs to be done, according to fire chief Steve Beer.
“We need help, we need changes in ordinances, we need changes in planning, we need help,” Beer said. “With the type of fires that we have sometimes, it feels like taking a knife to a gunfight.”
As with the fires two weeks ago, Beer says the efforts of many help the fire department do its job.
“The men and women out there do a heck of a job,” Beer said. “It’s a team approach from the sheriff’s department to emergency management to our mutual aid partners.”
Beer says that he can’t thank the efforts of the Reno County Sheriff’s Department — who helped with evacuations — enough.
“The sheriff has his deputies going house-to-house ahead of us clearing the way to get these people out of the house so we can stay focused on the fire fight,” Beer said. “It’s a great testimony to what we have going on in Reno County.
During the fires two weeks ago, Beer stated that changes needed to be made and says those changes could be coming soon.
“I have some changes that we are recommending for the city,” Beer said. “We put a laundry list of recommendations to present to the county board.”
The matter will be discussed by the Reno County Commission during the March 22 meeting.
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