What is the fire department's role in the community? This is certainly not on our minds every day but it is good to know what services are provided by a local government and how they benefit you as a resident.
The department responds to incidences of bad weather, fires, hazardous materials spills, rescues, vehicle accidents and many other calls to help those in need from conditions beyond their ability to control. We also endeavor to help the community understand ways to prevent any dangerous fire from occurring through education of children and adults.
When new development occurs the department encourages adequate water lines and standards for water system designs so that good fire flows can be maintained. This is crucial because water flows of approximately 1,000 gallons per minute could easily be required for a house fire. This high water flow is needed because of the amount of materials generally stored in the average home today, the clearance between homes and the higher level of heat that new homes produce in a fire.
Many organizations set standards for a fire department regarding equipment and mainten-ance. Wilmore volunteer firefighters maintain a high level of training, equipment, and required paperwork so that the ratings given by an organization called the ISO will result in lower insurance rates for you. Wilmore has the best rating in the county and this excellence will continue as our local government looks ahead and provides funding in response to the increasing needs of the fire department.
So although you live here in our small cozy town where it seems nothing happens, be aware that the fire department members are hard at work maintaining that security by providing the best service we can in sometimes unnoticed areas. The Wilmore Fire Department trains hard and is working to help you as a member of this community to understand our role in keeping Wilmore a safe place to live.
--Firefighter Lt. David Johns