Lyon County Fire District #5-Hartford/Neosho Rapids

09/05/2026

On this day in 2023, your LCFD #5 firefighters answered a mutual aid request for a large grass fire near Madison. We are proud to stand alongside our neighboring departments as part of a robust auto and mutual aid system. When the call comes, we respond, because neighbors helping neighbors is what the fire service is all about. 🚒🔥🤝

09/03/2026

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows that large portions of LCFD #5 and LCFD #1 are currently classified as Abnormally Dry. While conditions have not yet reached moderate drought status, without a break in the weather we will likely reach it soon.

As discussed yesterday, now is the time to be especially mindful of activities that can create sparks or ignition sources. Fire season traditionally ramps up after the first hard freeze, but current conditions suggest an elevated fire risk much earlier than usual this year. A little extra awareness and caution can go a long way in helping prevent wildfires.

09/03/2026

The folks at Flint Hills NWR have been great partners with us. Please go out and support them on their 60th Anniversary.

Flint Hills is 60 years old this year and we want you to help us celebrate on September 26th which is also National Public Lands Day.

09/02/2026

You don’t need to be a climatologist to recognize how hot and dry it has been lately, and the pattern looks to hold through next week. We’ve already seen a slight uptick in wildfire activity around the area, and if conditions continue to deteriorate, that number will rise. Several counties to our south have already implemented burn bans. We are not that dry...yet.

NOAA is forecasting building drought, which means the environment will continue to dry out. Now is the time to pay closer attention to burn barrels, dragging chains, equipment sparks, and anything else that can start a fire in these conditions.

Hopefully you won’t need us, but if you do, we’ll be ready, just as we always are.

08/31/2026

Take a look at the forecast, we’re staring down a stretch of hot, dry days with no rain in sight and temperatures pushing into the 90s. The “dry heat” we’re experiencing is already elevating fire danger. Even though the landscape is still green, thatch from mowing is burning readily right now, and conditions will continue to worsen if this pattern holds.

There is a tremendous amount of fuel sitting in the fields this year. Timely rains will delay the fire danger until after a hard freeze, but if that doesn’t happen, we’ll be ready to respond just as we always are.

Stay aware, stay cautious, and keep cool and hydrated for the next 10 days and beyond.

08/31/2026

When we talk about "fire inflation" this is what we mean. It's one example, but there are scores of others. PPE, SCBAs, etc have all seen huge increases.

Sticker shock is real. We don’t have to tell you that- prices are up everywhere.
You see it at the grocery store, when you pay for repairs or when it’s time to replace a vehicle.
West Metro is seeing it, too.
In 2018, West Metro paid $633,267 for a fire engine like this one. Today, a comparable new engine costs $1,384,099.
That’s nearly a 119% increase in nine years.
When we buy an engine, we get a lot of use out of it. At West Metro, an engine typically spends 20 years in front-line service, assigned to a station and responding to calls every day, followed by another five years as a reserve.
That’s 25 years responding to fires, medical emergencies, crashes, rescues and other calls for help.
But eventually, every engine reaches the end of its service life. And when you consider rising prices across an entire fleet- not just fire engines, but ambulances and other emergency vehicles- the costs add up quickly.
That’s why we want our community to understand what it costs to provide emergency services, how long we use the equipment we purchase and how much those costs have changed.

08/30/2026

LCFD #5 is saddened to learn that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer lost his life while helping evacuate residents in the path of an active wildfire near Wichita Mountains NWR in Oklahoma. Law enforcement is a dynamic profession, and officers never truly know what each shift will bring or what dangers they may face.

Our thoughts are with Officer Taylor’s family, friends, and coworkers during this difficult time.

Rest easy, Officer Taylor.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mourning federal wildlife officer David Taylor, 38 of Scio, Oregon, who is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents threatened by the Railroad South Fire.

Officer Taylor was going door to door alongside local emergency crews helping families get to safety. His last contact with dispatch came while he was helping a family evacuate their home. Evidence recovered from a structure where he was working to help a resident escape indicates that he died during the evacuation effort. Formal identification remains pending with the medical examiner.

Everything we know about David's actions reflects extraordinary courage, selflessness and devotion to duty.

Our hearts are with his family, friends, fellow officers and all who served alongside him. We will never forget his service.

08/29/2026

While pumps were being tested last weekend, our volunteers rolled right into another project, chasing down the emergency lighting gremlins on 5545, the Hartford Tender. After some recent electrical repairs, the lights decided they weren’t interested in turning back on.

Luckily, Matt Z. has a long history with this truck’s lighting system, and with Scott and Arick jumping in, the issue was diagnosed and fixed in short order.

It’s a good reminder that the volunteer fire service isn’t just about responding to calls. There’s a huge amount of work happening quietly in the background to make sure every truck is ready the moment it’s needed.

08/28/2026

End of an Era in Hartford

It’s the end of an era as City Hall and the old community center come down. Many will remember the damage from the July 4th storm that led to this moment. The building has stood proudly on that corner since 1883, serving generations of Hartford residents.

08/27/2026

Remember that conversation about the interstate?
Last night, your LCFD #5 volunteers responded to a vehicle fire on I‑35 near the 141‑mile marker. Engine 5530 arrived to find a passenger vehicle with the engine compartment fully involved. The crew made quick work of the fire and prevented further spread.

Just a few days earlier, volunteers also responded to a small grass fire along the interstate.

Our crews stay busy out there, and we appreciate everyone who stays alert and reports these incidents quickly. We also appreciate everyone that slows down, moves over, and gives us room to work.