By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend Fire Department and EMS reported a nearly 33% increase in incident calls this past January compared to last year. At Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting, Fire Chief Brent Smith said his department is currently up 22% as of early May. The majority of the call increase is coming from medical incidents.
"We go to a lot of places where elderly people just need help up," said Smith. "We offer them assistance. There are some programs out there where people can come to their houses. They will work with them to figure out grab handles, anything to keep them in their home."
Smith said he continues to monitor the call volume bump because the more calls his department runs means more supplies and maintenance will be needed.
The Great Bend Fire Department is fully staffed and recorded the fastest response time out of any EMS agency in Kansas in 2023. After receiving a call from dispatch, the Fire Department personnel has a goal of being out the door in 40 seconds.