State Fair Fire Department – Show Offs Welcome!

By Joe Jennings, Battalion Chief, Public Information Officer

The Missouri State Fair Fire Department’s (MSSFD) 2015 campaign has come to an end. The 53rd year of service to the 400 acre Missouri State Fairgrounds came with an unusually high call load, especially for the exceptional weather during the middle of August. The MSFFD answered the calls for service serving the 30,000 to 50,000 daily attendees without missing a beat. The all volunteer staff of the MSFFD consisted of members from agencies from across Missouri including members from large career agencies and some of the smallest volunteer agencies.

The MSFFD responded to a total of 211 calls for service in 2015 (132 in 2014). These calls for service included 134 medical or trauma responses, 15 transfers from the fairgrounds to Bothwell Regional Health Center and 4 motor vehicle accidents (3 with injuries and 1 with entrapment). The department provided standby for 46 events during the State Fair as well as during horse shows prior to the beginning of the Fair. The MSFFD also required assistance on two occasions in which patients were transported by medical helicopter for advanced treatments. In addition to emergency responses, the MSFFD provided assistance to 201 patients in the first aid station at the firehouse (240 in 2014).

The calls for service peaked during the first four days of the State Fair. From August 13 to August 16, the MSFFD responded to 114 calls for service. August 15 was the busiest day of these when the department responded to 41 calls for service. By the end of the day August 16, with seven days left for service, the department had reached the same number of calls for service as the 2014 total.

The Missouri Disaster Medical Team returned to the 2015 Missouri State Fair and assisted with patient care in their mobile hospital at the firehouse. DMT provided free treatment to 149 patients during the fair.

The MSFFD provided mutual aid assistance to the Pettis County Fire District on August 12 for a salvage yard. MSFFD provided an engine company to respond to assist with the fire which included six burning vehicles.

The department also provided mutual aid assistance to the Pettis County Ambulance District by providing district coverage for a short time period when district resources were busy with other responses.

The MSFFD also continued one of its many roles as the face of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri by receiving recognition in two different articles in the Sedalia Democrat newspaper as well as a feature story on KOMU news from Columbia.

In addition to providing fire and medical response to the fairgrounds, personnel performed countless hours of public relations activities. Personnel distributed 3,500 flying discs to the visitors of the firehouse. Crews also provided three sessions of hands-on fire extinguisher training for the public as well as two vehicle fire demonstrations, vehicle extrication demonstration and stop-drop-and-roll training. Each demonstration was well attended by fairgoers and provided a great opportunity for public interaction with Missouri’s fire service.

As mention before, the MSFFD provides an excellent opportunity for the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri to provide public service to the patrons of the Missouri State Fair. For the 53rd year, the FFAM has worked tirelessly to provide an exceptional free service to fairgoers as well as to provide fire prevention education to the thousands who visit the firehouse.

The end of the 2015 fair brought an end to RB Brown’s tenure as Fire Chief of the MSFFD. It goes without saying that Chief Brown’s three years as Chief has influenced hundreds of personnel who have served under him. The personnel of the department are fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve under Chief Brown’s direction. Thank you for your dedicated service to the MSFFD Chief Brown.

With Chief Brown’s tenure ending, the FFAM’s State Fair Committee appointed Donnie Rogers of the Chillicothe FD as the next MSFFD Fire Chief. The committee also appointed Terry Plumb of the Southern Stone County FPD as the next MSFFD Assistant Fire Chief.

FFAM President Kenneth Hoover announced during the 2015 Fair, that pending FFAM Board of Directors approval at the October 4 Board meeting, Rick Dozier will be appointed to serve on the FFAM’s State Fair Committee.

The Missouri State Fair Fire Department provides fire and medical response during the State Fair. The Missouri State Fair Fire Department is the only fully operational fire department in the United States that operates for only eleven days a year. The department is staffed with dedicated volunteers twenty-four hours per day throughout the State Fair providing fire suppression and advanced life support emergency medical services.

Personnel Awards

Missouri State Fair Fire Department personnel were awarded for their outstanding work during the 2015 Fair. Those members are as follows:

Dispatcher Shannon Wenkel, Southern Stone County FPD, Dispatcher of the Year

Dispatcher Madison Breid, Madison-West Monroe FD, Junior of the Year

EMT Josh Koepke, Kansas City FD, EMT of the Year

Firefighter Mark Scholle, N Central Carroll County FPD, Firefighter of the Year

EMS Battalion Chief Grant Oetting, Higginsville FPD, Officer of the Year

Thank You to the Donors

The Missouri State Fair Fire Department would like to thank the following donors. Without their assistance, the department would not have been able to operate.