This division serves as the central administrative and coordinating office of the Fire Department. The Fire Chief and his staff provide guidance and direction for the other divisions of the Fire Department. Fire Administration is responsible for various support services for firefighters, including: •Management of Fire suppression/EMS operations
•Payroll processing
•Fiscal administration
•Budget development
•Capital project planning
•Personnel record keeping

Fire Administration is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies and policies that will allow the Fire Department to fulfill their mission statement, as well as ensure department compliance with national fire protection standards.

The Fire Communications Division operates out of the Unified Government’s Public Safety Dispatch Center and is responsible for processing, dispatching, and coordination of emergency and non-emergency calls for service. The Fire Communications Dispatchers are also the resource managers for the Fire Department. In addition to dispatching calls, they also have to manage movement and placement of all the in-service equipment at all times. This helps to guarantee that the closest unit will always be sent.

All Fire dispatchers are trained to the highest of industry standards and all are Emergency Medical Dispatch certified, and are American Heart Association certified in CPR. All dispatchers provide pre-arrival instructions to callers and are trained at asking critical questions to provide first responders with as much important information as possible.

In addition to dispatching for KCKFD, Fire Dispatch also dispatches all fire and medical calls for the towns of Edwardsville and Bonner Springs, KS.

The Kansas City Kansas Fire Department has been active in providing Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in our community for decades. KCKFD launched the second Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance service in the state of Kansas in 1974. That service, known as K.A.R.E. (Kansas City KS Aid-Rescue-Emergency) in conjunction with BLS first responders and private ambulance companies, provided service to Kansas City, KS until 1995. In August of 1995, KCKFD became the largest provider of ALS first response in the state of Kansas and contracted with a private company to provide all ambulance transports. That contract ended July 1, 2004 and KCKFD resumed providing ALS and BLS ambulance service to the city in the form of a Fire-Based EMS system. Our ambulances respond to both emergency and non-emergency requests for medical assistance and transportation.

The KCKFD EMS system includes Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics operating from fire apparatus and ambulances. All personnel operate in a cross-trained/dual-role capacity to provide both fire suppression and EMS. KCKFD currently staffs 9 ALS ambulances around the clock with up to 3 additional cross-staffed ambulances available to be placed into service at a moment’s notice when the EMS system demand increases. Each day, KCKFD provides 22 fire apparatus that also respond to medical emergencies to provide medical assistance on an emergency scene in less than four minutes on average. The first responder/fire suppression response system includes 15 Pumper companies, and 7 Aerial apparatus (Quint or Truck companies). KCKFD ambulances arrive on an emergency scene in less than six minutes on average.

The EMS Division is managed by an Assistant Chief of EMS and a Battalion Chief of EMS who report to the Deputy Chief of Emergency Operations Corps. Additionally, EMS Supervisors provide daily on-shift direction for the EMS Division. Our clinical performance and documentation is retrospectively reviewed and tracked by our Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) Manager who works directly with our Medical Director to measure system and provider clinical performance. Our Medical Director is contracted to provide system clinical oversight and also oversees the medical care provided by our personnel. KCKFD EMS Training Instructors provide continuing education hours for the department so that our personnel can maintain their Kansas Board of EMS EMT and Paramedic certifications. KCKFD medical protocols are ultimately approved by the local Medical Society each year.

KCKFD continues to evolve through improved clinical and operational procedures and using the most up-to-date medical equipment. KCKFD Paramedics have been documenting in an electronic patient care record (ePCR) system since January 8, 2008. KCKFD works closely with the area hospitals to identify patients suffering from a traumatic event, a stroke, a heart attack (STEMI), or a cardiac arrest. Our goal is to transport a patient to definitive treatment at the most appropriate destination as soon as possible. Our Paramedics can acquire a 12-lead ECG on-scene and are trained to interpret the ECG. This combined with early notification to the receiving hospital saves valuable minutes in the Emergency Room or Cath Lab for patients experiencing a STEMI. We can also transmit the 12-lead ECG to the receiving hospital from the scene or during transport.

Your privacy is very important to us. Our Notice of Privacy Practices document outlines the ways in which we use your Protected Health Information and the cases in which we disclose this information to authorized parties. If you have any questions after reading our Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact the department’s HIPAA compliance officer: (913) 573-5550.

Additional information related to emergency medical services:

• Ambulance Membership
• Notice of Privacy Practices
• Billing

Responsible for the preservation of life and property from the devastation of fire.

Fire Suppression and advanced life support (ALS) emergency and non-emergent response is available from (18) fire stations (7)days a week, (24) hours a day.

Fire Special Operations Division provides the citizens and businesses specialized emergency response teams.  These specialty teams utilize advanced training, equipment, and technology to achieve their missions.  The department staffs a hazardous material team, a heavy search and rescue team, trench rescue, tactical medic, high angle rescue and a water rescue team. We lead the metropolitan area in response time.  We will be at your door with life saving measures in hand in an average of 3 minutes 41 seconds.

Responsible for maintaining (18) fire stations throughout the city. Annually dedicating resources to build and create gender-neutral living quarters for employees. Much of the time is spent on preventive maintenance in order to limit long-term capital project expenditures.

The Fire Department also maintains a vehicle maintenance and repair facility for all Fire Department vehicles and apparatus. Inventory includes a variety of apparatus including pumpers, aerials, quints, tankers, brush trucks and other fire support apparatus. All front line apparatus are inspected and serviced a minimum of (3) times a year by vehicle maintenance to assure the vehicles are properly maintained.

The maintenance facility also runs the Quartermasters Office to provide uniforms and personal protective equipment to fire department personnel.

Responsible for enforcing the laws, ordinances, rules and state statutes regarding fire prevention, the storage and use of explosive and flammable materials, the installation and maintenance of fire extinguishing equipment and the means and adequacy of exits in case of fire from all public and private places of assembly.

Fire Prevention

Responsibilities include regular fire inspections of industrial, commercial and other public buildings within the jurisdiction of Kansas City, Kansas to ensure compliance with local, state, and national regulations. This Division also conducts a comprehensive review of all new construction plans for projects and performs periodic inspections of both new and existing buildings to ensure that all fire code regulations are met.

Fire Investigation

Fire investigations are performed by our State Certified Fire Investigators to determine origin, cause and circumstances. Fire Department personnel investigate all fires. We also have implemented an Arson Hot Line ((913)573-5555) directly to the desk of the Fire Marshal. This is a confidential line for anyone who has information about any fire in Kansas City, KS.

Public Service & Education

Also handled by the Fire Prevention Division. We provide fire safety information to our residents through the many community events we attend each year. We educate approximately 6000 school age children year, with age specific materials and demonstrations regarding fire safety. Fire drills are also conducted at all Kansas City, Turner, Piper, and Parochial schools. We also attend many Career Day events each year and host countless station tours. Our doors are open. If we can help, let us know.

Smoke Detector Program

Develops and implements a very successful smoke detector program for the citizens of Kansas City, KS. Distributing thousands of smoke detectors through local community groups, schools and neighborhood blitz campaigns. A free smoke detector, based on need, can be obtained at any Kansas City, KS Fire Station.

Additional Information
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Home Escape Plan: English  | Spanish
Home Fire Escape Checklist
Home Heating Safety
Practice Home Fire Drill: English  |  Spanish
Smoke Alarms Safety Tips

Provides specialized emergency response teams. These teams utilize advanced training, equipment and technology in order to achieve their mission. The Fire Department plans to develop at least one specialized emergency response team for fire apparatus. These specially trained teams will be strategically placed in the community.

Teams that have already been organized include:

• Hazardous Materials Response Team
• Air/Lighting Team
• Water Supply Team
• Trench Rescue Team
• Heavy Rescue Team
• Foam Team
• Water Rescue Team
• High Angle Rescue Team
• Fire Investigations Team

Future teams include the Confined Space Rescue Team, the Emergency Operation Center Support Team and the High Rise Fire Support Team.

Maintains and improves the capabilities of Fire Department personnel through professional orientation and comprehensive training programs. The Training Division is responsible for developing and enhancing the skills of both the recruit and the veteran firefighter in new techniques and tools.

There are (4) programs within this Division:

Fire Training Program

Trains firefighters in the basics of firefighting as well as specialized firefighting and professional development. This program also includes the Fire Academy that trains new recruits in a 14- week intensive program to become firefighters. The Training Division ensures that firefighters are properly prepared to utilize the newest technology and equipment available in order to safely and effectively mitigate emergencies. The technical aspects of firefighting are continually increasing. The environments where firefighters work have become increasingly hazardous. Advancing technology and the use of newly developed materials in construction have created highly toxic atmospheres in burning structures and increased potential for sudden structure failure resulting in death or injury.

Medical Training Program

The Medical Training Program trains firefighters in emergency medical service delivery. The skills of our firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics can only be maintained by training intensely and frequently. Continuing Education training for both Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics of the Fire Department is conducted annually.

Special Operations Training Program
Fire Cadet Program

Maintains all Fire Department vehicles and apparatus in operation. Inventory includes 80 vehicles in all Divisions of the Fire Department. This inventory includes:

• Pumpers
• Aerials
• Quints
• Hazardous Materials Response Unit
• Brush Trucks
• Special Operations Units
• Other fire, rescue and suppression equipment

A large portion of the division’s time and effort is spent on preventive maintenance in order to reduce the dollars spent on repairs. In order to meet proper safety and maintenance standards, all Fire Department vehicles are inspected and serviced three times each year. Battalion cars and utility vehicles are maintained every 3,000 miles.