City of Hays Police and Fire

City of Hays Police and Fire Official page of the Hays Police and Fire Departments. This page is not monitored 24/7. Emergency, call 911.

The Hays Police and Fire Departments are departments of the City of Hays, www.haysusa.com. This account is intended for communication between the public and the Departments. Retweets, shares, likes and follows are not endorsements. This account is operated by the City of Hays and operates under its social media use policy, including terms of use and comment policy found on page 147 of the City of

Hays Personnel Manual. View the policy at https://www.haysusa.com/DocumentCenter/View/1722/Personnel-Manual

08/18/2026

School is back in session this week across Hays! 🎒

Before you hit the road for drop-off or pick-up, take a minute to watch this quick safety update from School Resource Officer Austin Spencer.

⚠️ Important Traffic Reminder: Traffic flow and patterns around both O’Loughlin Elementary and Felten Elementary have changed this year. Please plan ahead, review your route before leaving home, and expect extra delays during the first couple of weeks.

Let’s keep our kids, crossing guards, and buses safe:
• Put down distractions and slow down in all school zones.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Never pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and red lights flashing.

Have a great, safe school year, Hays!

Welcome home, Tigers! 🎓🖤💛 Whether you’re stepping onto campus for the first time or coming back for another semester, th...
08/18/2026

Welcome home, Tigers! 🎓🖤💛 Whether you’re stepping onto campus for the first time or coming back for another semester, the Hays Police Department is excited to have you in town.

Hays is a fantastic place to live, learn, and make unforgettable memories. We want you to enjoy every bit of campus life and everything our community has to offer—just remember that staying safe is what keeps the fun going! Officers were out at the FHSU Back to School Picnic with our drunk vision goggles, giving students a firsthand (and sober!) look at how quickly impairment throws off your coordination, reaction time, and judgment.

Have fun, look out for your friends, and always make smart choices. Never drive under the influence, plan your rides in advance, and help us keep Hays a safe place for everyone. Let’s make this school year the best one yet! 🚔✨

When was the last time you checked your dryer vent pipe? 🧺🔥Across our region, emergency responders have seen a recent up...
08/04/2026

When was the last time you checked your dryer vent pipe? 🧺🔥

Across our region, emergency responders have seen a recent uptick in dryer-related home fires. The photo above shows the exterior of a flexible vent hose—but inside is a critical area that often gets overlooked during routine cleaning.

Nationwide, the numbers from FEMA and the National Park Service are alarming:
📊 15,500 dryer fires occur annually across the U.S.
🚑 Causing an average of 10 to 15 deaths and over 300 injuries each year.
💰 Resulting in tens of millions of dollars in property damage.

The leading factor in these fires is failure to clean and maintain the venting system. When exterior vent tubes get crushed behind the machine, kinked, or clogged with lint, heat cannot escape safely and can spark a fire in seconds.

Quick safety checks for your household:
🔍 Inspect the outside of the tube: Ensure your flexible duct line isn't crushed against the wall, cracked, or kinked.
🧼 Clean the lint filter: Empty it before or after every single load.
💨 Clear the ductwork: Vacuum out the exhaust line and check that your outdoor vent hood flap opens freely while the dryer runs.

A 5-minute check can save your home. Share this reminder with friends and family in the area!

ROAD CLOSURE & TRAFFIC SAFETY ALERT: Downtown Main Street Closed This Saturday 🚗⚠️ Pedestrians and motorists, please pla...
07/23/2026

ROAD CLOSURE & TRAFFIC SAFETY ALERT: Downtown Main Street Closed This Saturday 🚗⚠️ Pedestrians and motorists, please plan ahead!

The City of Hays is issuing a street closure and safety advisory for Saturday, July 25, from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm for the annual Bazaar on the Bricks.

🚧 STREET CLOSURE NOTICE: Main Street from 8th to 12th Streets will be CLOSED to all vehicular traffic to accommodate heavy pedestrian crowds. Portions of 11th and 12th Streets extending one block off Main will also experience restricted vehicular access.

Critical Safety & Traffic Guidelines:
🚫 Respect Road Closures: Do not attempt to drive past barricades or enter closed street zones.
🚗 Watch for Surrounding Congestion: Expect heavy foot traffic and vehicle congestion on adjacent side streets and surrounding downtown blocks. Drive slowly and stay alert for pedestrians walking to and from the event.
🅿️ Keep Emergency Access Clear: Park only in legal, designated public spaces. Do not park in fire lanes, block fire hydrants, or obstruct open driveways and alleyways. First responders must have unimpeded access at all times.
🚦 Use Alternate Routes: Motorists passing through downtown are strongly advised to utilize alternate routes (such as Vine Street or Hall Street) to bypass closures and avoid delays.
🚸 Pedestrian Safety: Shoppers and families are encouraged to use marked crosswalks when crossing open roadways to reach the event area.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our downtown streets safe and accessible!

(See the first comment below for complete event details!)

07/23/2026

The City of Hays is preparing for a massive crowd as Union Pacific’s historic "Big Boy" No. 4014 steam locomotive makes its stop in Hays July 24-26!

Because thousands of spectators are expected, heavy traffic delays and congestion are anticipated downtown and along the railroad corridor, especially around arrival and departure times.

Essential Safety Guidelines for All Spectators:
🛑 Stand back: Stay at least 25 feet back from all railroad tracks. Trains are wider than the tracks themselves.

🚫 Never trespass: Railroad tracks, trestles, and rights-of-way are private property. Do not walk on or cross tracks outside of designated public crossings.

🚗 Park smartly: Do not block driveways, fire hydrants, or emergency access lanes. Park only in legal, designated spaces.

🚦 Expect traffic delays: Plan extra time when traveling near the tracks, follow officers directing traffic, and keep eyes on the road.

👶 Keep kids & pets close: Ensure children are supervised at all times near moving vehicles and train tracks.

Let's make this historic visit safe and enjoyable for everyone in Hays!

(See the first comment below for the official schedule link and more details!)

07/10/2026

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 11, hundreds of cyclists will be traveling through Hays and across Ellis County for the annual Tour die Kapellen (Tour of the Chapels).

As our community welcomes these riders exploring our historic area and Volga-German heritage, the Hays Police and Fire Departments urge all drivers to exercise extra caution:

🔹 Give 'Em Space: Kansas law requires drivers to pass bicycles with a minimum of 3 feet of clearance. Give riders plenty of room!
🔹 Slow Down & Scan: Anticipate increased bicycle traffic on rural county roads and city streets, especially near historic churches.
🔹 Stay Focused: Distracted driving is dangerous driving. Keep your eyes on the road and watch for sudden stops or turning cyclists.
🔹 Share the Road: Cyclists have a legal right to use the roadway. Let's make sure everyone gets home safely.

Thank you for helping us keep our roads safe for residents and visitors alike!

🚒✨ Storytime had some extra firefighting flair today!Captain Kirk Klein and Firefighter Aiden Stephenson stopped by the ...
07/09/2026

🚒✨ Storytime had some extra firefighting flair today!

Captain Kirk Klein and Firefighter Aiden Stephenson stopped by the Hays Public Library this morning for a special Story Time. The kids got to hear some great books, ask questions, and hang out with two of our local heroes!

A big thank you to the library for hosting us and to all the awesome kiddos who showed up to learn about fire safety. Keep reading, Hays! 📚❤️

🚒 Join us in congratulating Firefighter Eli Rohr on earning his EMT certification! 🎉You might wonder: why do Hays firefi...
07/08/2026

🚒 Join us in congratulating Firefighter Eli Rohr on earning his EMT certification! 🎉

You might wonder: why do Hays firefighters become certified EMTs?

In an emergency, every second counts. Our firefighters are often the first on the scene of medical emergencies, accidents, and rescues. By being dual-trained in fire suppression and emergency medical services, Firefighter Rohr and our entire team can provide immediate, life-saving care before an ambulance even arrives.

Thank you, Eli, for your hard work and dedication to keeping Hays safe and healthy! 👏❤️

Upgrading our gear to keep Hays safe! 🚒🔥On Monday, June 29th, the Hays Fire Department took possession of brand-new, sta...
07/07/2026

Upgrading our gear to keep Hays safe! 🚒🔥

On Monday, June 29th, the Hays Fire Department took possession of brand-new, state-of-the-art Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs). Replacing our previous 10-to-15-year-old models, these new TICs offer a major tech leap: sharper resolution, faster frame refresh rates, and wider-angled views.

What makes these unique? A special "survey mode" allows our crew to make critical size-up decisions from a structure's exterior the moment operations begin. Plus, this purchase means we now have more cameras available on the fireground, putting life-saving tech directly into the hands of more firefighters during size-up, suppression, and search-and-rescue operations.

A huge thank you to Max Fire Training, who hand-delivered the equipment and led a joint training session for members of the Hays Fire Department and the Ellis County Fire Department. Using a specialized fire box and ventilation attachment, our teams simulated real structure fire conditions to get hands-on experience before the TICs officially go into service.

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at the Hays Police and Fire Departments! 🇺🇸✨As you celebrate with family, friends, f...
07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at the Hays Police and Fire Departments! 🇺🇸✨

As you celebrate with family, friends, food, and fireworks today, please keep safety top of mind:
👉 Leave the professional fireworks to the pros, and follow all local city ordinances regarding personal fireworks use.
👉 Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby when handling fireworks.
👉 Never drink and drive. Designate a driver, use a rideshare service, or call a cab to get home safely.

Our teams are out on patrol and on call today to ensure everyone has a safe holiday. Let's make it a great, accident-free 4th of July, Hays! 🎆❤️🤍💙

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Hays, KS

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(785) 625-1030

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