Linn Fire Protection District

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.

04/16/2026

Please post, print flyer off and post it, thanks!

04/16/2026

Good Job!!

Osage County 911 Dispatcher Center Telecommunicator of the Year Karen Shorthose

04/13/2026

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU CALL 911:
If you have an emergency or a report you need to file, call 911. When calling 911, the call-taking dispatcher will immediately ask for the address of the emergency, your contact phone number on scene and will have you read it back for verification. The partner dispatcher (called “radio”) will verify that the enhanced 911 computer software has detected the location information as reported and it matches. In an unforeseen circumstance, if you are disconnected, the dispatcher can at least send fire, EMS and police to help to the emergency address.

CALLER’S ROLE:
It is important to stay as calm as possible, be clear and allow the dispatcher to ask questions in the order they are asked on the CAD (computer aided dispatch) software. If the caller jumps into what happened and does not follow along with the CAD, questions can be asked twice, going back to answer them and so on. During the CFS (call for service), the dispatcher types the information as asked and moves to the next question. This happens quickly and when complete, the CAD sends a bullet text to the responders with pertinent information. While the call-taking dispatcher is giving further pre-arrival instructions such as CPR, what to do during evacuations, hazmat calls, places to meet responders and so on, the radio dispatcher has already notified responders of a call by radio and pager with a statement such as “city fire department, structure fire 123 Road ABC, more to follow when ready”. The fire agency will acknowledge they received the alert. When ready, the first apparatus will go enroute and the radio dispatcher will give all additional detailed information about the call. This method allows responder, whether in the station or away from the station a quick opportunity to “make ready”. Once ready to receive, the responder will state that they are ready for further information and the radio dispatcher will give them all the pertinent detailed information.

If you are upset, let someone else call 911. Be honest, to the point and listen. Detail information about the situation, and issues leading up to this event should be given to the responder when he gets on scene. Remember, the dispatcher is not a deputy, a paramedic or a firefighter, so legal advice, suggestions, opinions, interpretations should be left to the responding agency because they are the experts in the field.

Follow this week for additional information about the dispatchers of the 911 center.

04/12/2026

Thank you to our dispatchers for striving to make each call less stressful, less catastrophic, and allowing us to do our job with your calm voice, extensive training and educated approach to better dispatching methodology. There is a vast difference from past decades of someone answering a call to today’s telecommunicator providing calming notification, simple all information, waiting for fire, law and EMS to deploy and then receiving vital, detailed information without being bombarded with radio traffic. Thank you

National Telecommunicator Week
April 12-18, 2026

Every year during the second full week of April is the telecommunications week and we honor those men and women in public safety at the 911 Dispatch Center. This week-long event is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their time and talent to serving the public. There is always two Osage County 911 dispatchers are at the ready, 24 hours a day, every day of the week here in Linn, setting in the “command post” where all emergency reports are made and from where all responders get their alarm , activatio nad radio and telephone communications are made.

Please follow us this week on FACEBOOK for further information.

04/11/2026

Telecommunicators Week Starts April 12. Linn Fire wants to thank all our county 911 dispatchers for their dedicated training and service. Their job gives everyone with an emergency the quick response and resources needed to better serve our customers. Thank you.

01/16/2026

The Linn Fire Protection District will be accepting bids for lawn care for all the district property. This proposed contract shall be for three years at which time it will expires on February 15, 2029.

You can get a copy of the Bid Spec's and Invitation by calling or texting 573-291-8597 or email [email protected] .

Bids shall be received up and until 7:00 pm, February 19, 2026 where they will be opened at the regular board meeting of the Linn Fire Protection District.

Thank you, Board of Directors