Linn Fire Protection District

08/16/2026

As we step back to Feb 2006, before we actually started construction on the station, we had used the current drive onto main street as our benchmark (our survey point) and we drew the station floor to be 3’ higher than that. At 140’ from the road to the station, you couldn’t even tell the floor was 3' higher. Our general contractor Elmer Senevy made a suggestion to lower the floor, 3’ below the benchmark at the road, and move the driveway downhill 30’. This suggestion lowered the station 6’ into the ground and only about 5’ of that northwest corned need about 4’ of fill. It helped us with fill in the back and made it all a better layout, a great idea. That small amount was then filled in and compressed. Now the floor is only 2’ lower than the driveway entrance.

Toward the end of August, 2006, we prepared by have as much moved ahead of time into the new station as possible. The station apparatus bay floor was poured; the first 40’ in the front. The design of the firefighters was not to have several floor drains throughout the station. We wanted one trench drain along the front, 3' from the front wall and doors. This allowed the contractor to pour the floor with a power screed with a 3" pitched floor toward the front. Straight, smooth and water that leaked from the apparatus ran under the truck into the drain. Hopefully, no more walking through water to get to the trucks like the old station.

We had only 5 fire apparatus in the 1200 E Main Street station, City Engine 1, Rural Engine 2, rescue, tanker and a brush truck. With one bay free in the new station, we placed our office area.

We made a partition of filing cabinets between bay 1 and 2, placed our only desk along with an 8’ folding table for board meetings and that was bay 1.

We slowly continued to move what we could from the old station to the new. The parking was still limited, but we continued to get loads of free land fill. We did move the air cascade, the base radio, the office, what training supplies we had and erected a flag pole.

In those days, everyone jumped in to help along with the auxiliary. Captain Craig Leivian took lead on many of those projects and work nights. At this time, heat in the building was not yet completed.

07/25/2026

We are once again, announcing the what 3 words location program. Osage County Emergency Management and Linn Fire have partnered for over three years to bring this to the public. Download the what 3 words app on your phone to use when you need help at a location that has no address. Whether you’re hiking, fishing/boating on the river, in the back 40 of your farm, broke down along the roadway, what 3 words will give us your location immediately. The program is based off GPS coordinates. Even having your families location through Life360 or other apps will greatly benefit responders and cut down on the waste of time of searching. If the patient is conscious enough to use their phone, he could even text 911 his location through what 3 words. If someone does not have what three words the 911 Center can actually send them a message and all they have to do is accept that message from the 911 Center and that will tell 911 your location exactly. 911 will then pass the what 3 words to the responders who will travel to your location in a timely manner to provide the service you need. Please look at the attached flyer and help us pass a word so that we can better help our citizens.

07/25/2026

In 2006, the station continued to shape up and was close to being complete. Moving from our old congested station to our new station demanded some sacrifices. We completed the building of the new 92’ x 64’ station. Inside only the concrete under the vehicle bays was poured. This allowed us to take our time and finish the plumbing, sewer lines, water lines and all work under the floor before we poured the back. This building shell, vehicle concrete and heat was called Phase 1. We completed this for $175,000.

We continued to slowly completed the underground and eventually poured the concrete in the back portion. Over time, slowly while rebuilding our money reserves so we could complete Phase 2.

07/16/2026

In February 2006 the Linn Fire Protection District Board negotiated the purchase of 3 acres on the West End of Linn from Mike Morton. The property was to be the home of the new headquarters fire station in Linn. Although the topography was not ideal Ron Hoffman and Ron Kempker were able to go down into the brush and survey the hillside and determined that the new firehouse would be setting on solid ground and only the parking lot needed fill. The design for the firehouse was the same one designed by the firefighters some 10 years earlier with only minor modifications.

Elmer Senevy had won the contract and work could begin earlier this spring. The layout on the west end of Linn ended up being of strategic importance because it gives us quick access to county road arteries on the west such as new Highway 50, what is now Loose Creek Highway, Highway 100, Highway W, and Highway U, all while remaining within the city limits for ISO purposes. Everything to the east and to the south was accessed by Highway 50 East and Highway 89 north and south.

07/14/2026

Around 1996, on a very rainy and cold training night, the fire fighters started discussing what if we had a new fire station. Discussion was full of ideas by firefighters that used the facility. Approximately 20 firefighters put their heads together and came up with an idea and over time, more and better ideas were added.

The Linn Fire Dept started out in 1949 in a two bay and a two-story fire station. This old portion has changed and the old bay 1 is the license fee office, and bay 3 is still used as the staging area for our 2000 gallon tanker. In the early 50s a tornado had taken the top part of the station off and later in front where the middle walk door was, a middle garage door was added. In the early 80s a bigger Station was built which is now where the Linn police department garage is to house the bigger trucks that no longer fit and the old Station. As time grew, we found that we had less and less room for all our needed equipment and better operationally readiness. We only had one office which was where the chief of police resides now and the basement of City Hall for training, CPR and first responder classes. The house in between the two sets of bays was originally designed for the residential fire chief. In 2005 it was obvious that the department was outgrowing our station. An offer was made to the city to buy the entire complex but was rejected.

06/18/2026

Getting our 250th USA Birthday look going.

05/21/2026

Thank you to Osage Ambulance District. They are truly a partner in emergencies that we can count on whether responding together to a vehicle accident or when they come to a structure to support the firefighters. Happy EMS WEEK to a great team!!!

04/30/2026

04/16/2026

WHAT CAN THE DISPATCH DO FOR ME ON SCENE:
To better understand the dispatcher’s role while taking your call, once the responders have been sent, the dispatcher can often assist the caller with valuable instruction to an emergency. Dispatchers can walk a caller through CPR if need, how to administer baby aspirin if the correct questions are answered. They can advise on life saving First Aid, what to do and well as what do to do. The dispatch can guide you through specific situations that can make a difference such as childbirth and what to do when a caller is in a sinking car in the water.

As needed, the dispatcher will stay on the line with you until help arrives. They can be a calm voice for you to talk to, or just listen. We will ask you to turn on the porch light if you can, even in the day light, if you have a big dog that may get aggressive with responders. We will verify a key location or a door code if you have not pre-registered one through SMART 911 or the dispatch center.

We have many resources and agencies we can send to you or for you to contact them.

Allow us to help with your emergency.

04/16/2026

We WANT our customers TO know that sometimes a dispatcher cannot always hang out on the phone with a caller. Realize that each phone call is important, just as the radio traffic is important with the responders. Know that each responder is rushing as fast and as safe as possible to aid you in your emergency and they cannot hurry any faster and still be safe. As they respond, the dispatcher may never know how far out they are from the scene and due to being busy, may not have the time to ask.

How can you help manage the 911 center dispatch to dispatch the appropriate emergency response agency to your call as fast as possible? Be calm and as patient as possible. Answer all their questions as accurately as possible and answer them as they ask the specific question. Never hang up on the dispatcher until they tell you good-bye, this way you know they are done gathering information. Only call back if you have pertinent information that has changed the scene.

We get many calls that are not follow-ups to a call for service, a report or an emergency call for service. Know that the administrative portion of the sheriff’s office is closed at night. The emergency line for the sheriff’s office is 911 and again, if you have a follow-ups to a call for service, a report or a new emergency call for service. The dispatcher is happy to service this great community and thank you for your support!! In 2025, the 911 center took 19,988 calls for service, that is 54 calls as day. That is a lot of emergency calls. Please pass on this information to everyone you know, help us to make it better.