Good day, all!

We’ve had some busy times and some slow times so far this year. Time to catch you all up on important information, updates, changes, etc.

Messages from Fire Chief James Vaughn for his volunteers:

1. Follow the Chain of Command. See below if you don’t know what that is or who holds the positions.
2. After calls, refill the trucks. Fuel, water in the tank, bottled water, etc.
3. After calls, put the trucks back in service. Check the tools used, replace/clean hoses used, ensure all items are placed back in their proper compartments, replace bottles in air packs and loosen the straps.
4. After the brush truck goes to the race track, take your personal belongings and trash OUT of the truck.
5. Watch your speed when driving the departments’ trucks. These trucks do not handle like your personal vehicles. Also use caution and a spotter when backing the trucks.
6. Do not wait for duty crew days to do truck checks. If you have some time on random days and you can do some truck checks, do them.
7. We are on limited staffing. We need everyone to start running calls, especially if the address is close to where you live. We will be actively recruiting new firefighters starting June 1.
8. Keep your personal issues off the fire scene. We are here to serve the people of our districts. Deal with them back at the station or take them to the Grievance Committee. If the person you have an issue with is on the Grievance Committee, follow the Chain of Command.
9. When you are writing the reports after an incident, capture ALL necessary information, otherwise we cannot bill people who have not paid their fire dues. The reports need to be completed within 3 to 5 business days after an incident so details are still fresh in your mind and I can ask any questions I need to about the incident.
10. Wear your fire department shirts to duty crews and (if possible) all calls. Photos are taken at duty crews and occasionally on calls. We want to show the public we are departments which are uniform.
11. I want to recognize the efforts put forth by several officers and firefighters. They have worked hard to assist with fixing equipment, complete truck checks, run calls consistently, and attend duty crews. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. You are the heart and soul of our departments. You keep us going. You show the commitment we have to providing protection to the residents of our districts. THANK YOU!
12. If you have not read the Standard Operating Guidelines, Event Operating Guidelines, Clinical Care Guidelines, and the Alarm Dispatch Protocols, then you need to read them. If you have any questions, please follow the Chain of Command.
13. Know where you are responding to before leaving the station. If you don’t know where you are going, then look it up. All the apparatuses have map books of Camden and Laclede Counties.

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For photos from our duty crews, events, and calls, follow our Facebook page.

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New and exciting changes are coming to the department!

By unanimous vote, Chief Vaughn has been replaced on the Stoutland Fire Board by Samantha Dale. This will allow him to focus on his duties as fire chief, including processing fire reports, seeking more funding, distributing bills to people who have emergencies and do not pay their dues, and organizing more focused training opportunities. Samantha is scheduled for Certified Fire and Ambulance Board Training through MUFRTI in July 2024.

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One of the few ways we bring in money for the departments is from doing events and covering the race track(s). We need more people to volunteer to cover the race track on Friday nights and/or some Saturdays. We need people to participate in events like the Stoutland picnic and the Elks Lodge Truck and Tractor Pull. Show the public you are there to help and you are proud to be their firefighters.

We are beginning cleanup around Station 2. If you know a towing company willing to haul the old, out of service fire trucks to Charlie’s place, please let Chief Vaughn know (417-288-1387). The weather has broken, so regular lawn care needs to be done at both stations. Please be prepared to assist with this during or outside of duty crews.

For the residents: Fire Dues are or are going to be due soon, depending on which of our districts your residence(s) fall within. For Sleeper, your dues were due by May 1. For Stoutland, your dues are due by July 1.

We are working on a way for our residents to pay their dues online. Until then, further information on Annual Fire Dues and how to submit them can be found here: Annual Dues.

Stay tuned for more updates!