Osage County Fire District Number 6
Burlingame

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Brief History

The city fathers back in 1876 formed the original fire department which has been in force to this day. The department has always been manned by an all volunteer membership. The original organization started out with one piece of equipment, that being a hose cart that was pulled to the fire by hand. Over the years the department acquired motorized equipment.

Up until 1958 the fire department only responded to alarms inside the city limits. That same year the City of Burlingame joined together with Dragoon and Burlingame Townships to form a larger department and provide fire protection to the entire area. Shortly after that time a new radio system was installed to better alert the fire fighters when there was a fire call.

In the late 1970's another volunteer group started the Rescue Squad which would respond to emergency medical calls. This group was completely donation funded and staffed by some members from the fire department as well as their own charter members. This group served a very important and appreciated service to the community and paved the way for our First Responder Program that we have today.  In 1987 the Rescue Squad became a part of the fire department and is now supported by funds from within the fire department budget.

Burlingame Fire Department provides fire and first responder medical services to an area covering approximately 110 square miles. This area includs the City of Burlingame and the townships of Burlingame and Dragoon. Burlingame Fire Department responds from a single eight bay station. the Station is located one block north of the west end of main street at 206 North Dacotah. The department responds with two class A pumpers, a 2000 gallon tanker, 1250 gallon tanker, service truck company, two brush trucks, and a light rescue truck. Some of the types of emergencys the department responds to are structure fires, car fires, wildland fires, hazardous material incidents, carbon monoxide alarms, vehicle accidents, and emergency medical calls. on average the department responds to approximately 200 calls per year.

The Department provides regular training drills on the first Wednesday and third Thursday of each month as well as other special training sessions thourghout the year. Each member is required to annually to recertifiy CPR, First Aid, Hazmat Awarness, Infectous control, along with other topics. Each member must attend at least 10 of the regular training drills. The department encourages each member to be cross trained in both fire and emergency patient care.

The Department also provides many volunteer benifits. These benifits include but are not limited the following:
Outside training fees paid
24 hour life insurance
Retiremant anuity after 20 years service
$10 pay per call and drill attended

Anyone intersted in joining the department is encouraged to pick up an application at the department or calling for an appointment.

Burlingame Fire District #6 Fire Protection Capability Improves in Latest Evaluation by Insurance Industry Advisory Firm

Burlingame Fire District #6’s fire protection capability, as rated by an insurance industry advisory company, has improved.
The rating by ISO (Insurance Services Office), also known as Public Protection Classification (PPC), evaluates municipalities’ fire suppression capabilities based on a variety of factors, such as fire department equipment, staffing and training, the distance of individual properties from fire stations and fire hydrants, water supply and communications.

Following its comprehensive review and analysis of these factors, ISO then assigns communities a fire protection classification that ranges between 1 (best) and 10 (less than minimum recognized protection).  ISO’s classifications are used by property insurance companies as one of many factors in setting homeowners and commercial property insurance rates.

The boundaries for Burlingame Fire District #6 include all of Burlingame and Dragoon Townships as well as the City of Burlingame.  If you own a home or business within the boundaries of Burlingame Fire District #6 you may want to call your insurance company and inform them of your new fire protection class and ask if it will affect your premiums. The new ratings are as follows:

If you live within 5 road miles of the fire station in Burlingame and have a fire hydrant within 1000 feet of your home or business you are rated as a class 4.

If you live within 5 road miles of the fire station in Burlingame but do not have a hydrant within 1000 feet of your home or business you are rated as a class 6.

If you live within the boundaries of Burlingame Fire District #6, are farther than 5 road miles from the fire station in Burlingame, but are within 5 miles of a fire station in Harveyville, Scranton, Auburn or Osage City, you are rated as a class 6.

If you live within the boundaries of Burlingame Fire District #6, are farther than 5 miles from the fire station in Burlingame and are not within 5 miles of a neighboring fire station you are rated as a class 10.

The improved rating was accomplished by many years of planning and cooperation between the Osage County Fire Chief’s Association, Osage County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers, County Commissioners and all neighboring fire departments.  Through automatic aid agreements at least three fire departments are automatically dispatched to any structure fire alarm in the county.  When a structure alarm is sounded, the neighboring fire departments automatically send an Engine and at least one Tanker and manpower to assist.

The latest improvement that has had the most impact on the rating for citizens within the city limits of Burlingame has been the recent water system upgrade.  The complete upgrade will include a 2 phase project that would replace all water mains and fire hydrants as well as the water tower on the city’s water system.  Phase 1 was completed in the fall of 2006 which included replacement of water mains in the east half of town and the business district, a new larger water tower and pump upgrades.  The increased storage capacity of the new tower and the improved flows through the new mains was credited to the downtown business fire in April of 2007 being contained to one structure instead of several.  Phase 2 is in the planning stages with construction possibly to start in the fall of 2008.  If phase 2 is completed as recommended by the fire department the class 4 rating should be maintained.  
If you have any questions regarding this article please call 785-654-2407.

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