Friends of Kingfisher Fire Station FIRE Tax extension

01/20/2025

01/15/2025

The results are in, and your voices have been heard at the ballot box. We are now ready to move forward as a community! Chief Gibson and the firemen are very appreciative of your support and wanted to pass on their thanks!

01/15/2025

01/14/2025

We encourage everyone who lives in Kingfisher City limits to get out and cast your vote today. We hope it will reflect your support for our firemen and the future of Kingfisher! Vote YES!

FIRE STATION SPECIAL ELECTION
Today is the day! Cast your vote this Tuesday, January 14th. Kingfisher citizens are voting either for or against the proposition which states that the current sales tax of 1/2 a penny would be extended for an additional 10 years from 2031 to 2041. This is NOT a tax increase. Polls are open from 7am to 7pm at two locations in town. You must have your ID to vote!

POLLING PLACES -
Kingfisher Memorial Library
Senior Citizens Center

Friends of Kingfisher Fire Station FIRE Tax extension
Kingfisher Fire Department
City of Kingfisher, OK

01/14/2025

If you’ve lived in Kingfisher for very long, you are probably familiar with Dennis Mueggenborg or the business he owns with his wife, Tammy.

When asked his position on extending the1/2 Penny FIRE sales tax, Dennis said, “Of course, I’m supporting it. Hopefully all of our Kingfisher Fire, Ambulance, and paramedic workers know that Kingfisher is behind them 100%.”

His wife Tammy, who was a City Commissioner in 2021 when the ½ Penny Sales Tax went into effect, remembers thinking back then that they might not be asking for enough money for the project. So, especially with all the changes to the economy since then, she wasn’t surprised when they came back needing more.

The first architect the city worked with, back in 2021, had only built one fire station and was just giving them a ballpark dollar amount. Whereas the one who created the final plans has built over 350 fire stations and is extremely knowledgeable about today’s industry safety standards. For example, the need for exhaust fans to push out carcinogens that come from vehicle exhaust in the bay, a 911 monitoring system, and a generator in the event they lose power. He also understands the importance of using commercial building materials, such as installing overhead bay doors instead of the cheaper, residential garage doors that could not withstand the wear and tear that a busy fire station would put on them. In the long run, things like that would have to be replaced.

Having a newer station that can house all of Kingfisher Fire Department’s equipment under one roof, along with the added safety features would lower their ISO rating. Your area's Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating determines how well your local fire department can protect your community and home. Insurance companies use the score to help set home insurance rates, so the new station may save you money on your insurance premiums. However, the impact of your area's ISO score on your homeowner’s insurance policy varies by insurer. Regardless, the added safety will be invaluable.

The City of Kingfisher wants to build a fire station that is safe for their hardworking firefighters. Chief Gibson, retired Chief Stewart, and City Manager Jim Thomas, desire to build something that lasts- something the people of Kingfisher can be proud of.

“It’s a pride thing here.” according to Dennis Mueggenborg. He and Tammy both believe we need to get this done but emphasized their support of getting it done right. Dennis ended by stating, "It's time for us to move forward."

01/13/2025

The Kingfisher Fire Department needs your help to build their new fire station.

The election to extend the sales tax is this Tuesday, January 14th.

This is not a tax increase, it is only extending the time for this sales tax to ensure the new fire station can be built. Please share this post to show your support and remind your friends to vote!

01/12/2025

Bill Reitz is a retired state trooper and owns a local business with his wife Dawn, who is better known as “the boss” to Bill and the “Quilt Lady” to everyone else. Bill was quick to voice his support of the continuation of the FIRE Sales Tax being voted on January 14th. Before Bill became a state trooper, he was a paramedic for 7 years.

During those early years of Bill’s paramedic career, he worked out of a small space where the sleeping quarters consisted of bunk beds in a single room, where he says, “we also shared one bathroom like these guys do.” Because of that experience, Bill says he knows what it’s like to live in an “outdated, cramped facility”.

Reitz shared that in addition to the challenging sleeping situation, these guys eat, cook, train, and are supposed to relax- all in one room- a room we have learned is not only cramped, but does not provide the industry safety standards to protect our firemen like will be provided in the new station if the ½ cent FIRE sale tax extension passes.

Because this all-in-one room is used for training, it is important to note that the training/ conference/ eating table only seats 8 people. Even if you utilized the 6 recliners next to the table, that would still only seat 14, while there are actually 20 active firefighters who need to be trained.

Cramming everyone in the room is not an option because it would not leave room for any hands-on, in-service training for their required continuing education hours. For that reason, Kingfisher has to pay to send 6 firefighters at a time to be trained out of town, paying for transportation and room and board during the training, while the other firefighters stay behind to cover the station and make sure the community is safe.

When the new station is built, there will be a larger training room that will accommodate all of our firefighters, including the future volunteer firefighters Chief Gibson hopes to add, and will also give us the opportunity to invite other area stations, especially those manned by volunteers, to join in the training. This will not only be more convenient, save money in the long run since the firemen won’t have to travel, but will also better prepare firefighters in the area who assist each other.

Reitz added that not only will the new station be good for our firefighters and the Kingfisher community, when you are trying to recruit firefighters to come here from other towns, having a new station should make the opportunity a lot more attractive to potential candidates.

01/11/2025

We love that the Kingfisher Fire Department is investing in future firefighters through Kingfisher High School!

01/11/2025

HERE’S 5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE KINGFISHER FIRE DEPARTMENT

1- DID YOU KNOW THAT THE KINGFISHER FIRE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T JUST SERVE THE CITY OF KINGFISHER?

Kingfisher Fire Department actually serves 155 square miles, and the Ambulance covers 560 square miles.

2- DID YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THE KINGFISHER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO CALLS LAST YEAR?

KFD/Fire truck responded to 838 calls last year and the Ambulance/EMS responded to 1093 emergency calls.

3- DID YOU KNOW THAT THE KINGFISHER FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVES 4 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

KFD responds to calls at Dover, Lomega, Kingfisher and Okarche school districts.

4- DID YOU KNOW THAT AN OKLAHOMA BILL CALLED RILEY'S RULE REQURES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO COORDINATE WITH AMBULANCE SERVICES TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROVIDE EMS SERVICES AT ATHLETIC EVENTS?

For most sports that means making sure every school has a plan in place and is prepared to administer CPR till EMS arrives. Because the risk of major injury is greater with high school football, Kingfisher EMS has an agreement with KPS to have someone at every home KHS football game. They also attend other sporting events at Kingfisher, as well as the other 3 school districts they serve, whenever they are available to do so.

5- DID YOU KNOW THAT THE KINGFISHER FIREMEN AND PARAMEDICS WORK MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS?

KFD works every parade and every rodeo in town. They lead the way for send-offs when FFA, sports teams, band, choir, or academic team make it to state level championships. When asked and are available, KFD supports big or small community needs. For instance, when the FBC Compassion Clinic is shorthanded, they call on the KFD Firemen/EMS Paramedics to help out. It isn’t unusual to see our firemen taking vitals and doing triage for those preparing to see a doctor.

The Kingfisher Fire Department is so vital to our community. They are there to help us whenever we need it. It's our turn to step up and vote to take care of them and equip them to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Vote YES to continue the 1/2 penny FIRE sales tax on January 14!

01/10/2025