Fire Department

The City of Russell Fire Department was organized in 1889 and is comprised of one fire station that services the City of Russell and mutual aid with Russell County. The department is staffed by a career Fire Chief and composed of currently 21 volunteer/part-time firefighters. 

The City of Russell Fire Department has an updated fleet consisting of a 2001 American La' France 100-foot aerial, a 2001 Freightliner Rescue Pumper, a 2014 Spartan/Smeal CAFS structure pumper, a 2020 HME/Ahrens Fox Rescue Pumper, and a 2021 Danko Multi-purpose Brush Truck. 

The City of Russell Fire Department provides emergency response for structural protection inside the city limits of Russell along with mutual aid with other county departments in Russell County. The fire department is responsible for Rescue operations within the county (including Lake Wilson) and is also in charge of county-wide Hazmat response. The department also provides backup EMS, water rescue, technical rescue, along with other call types (including rescuing cats from trees). 

All department members are trained to a minimum of Firefighter 1 with all training conducted by nationally certified instructors from the City of Russell Fire Department in conjunction with Kansas University. The department offers Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Driver Operator, Aerial Operator, Hazmat Awareness & Operations, along with other nationally recognized classes. The fire department trains every Wednesday night along with some weekend trainings. 

The fire department provides several valuable services to the community at no charge. The department provides business pre-plans, life safety inspections for businesses and residences, smoke detector installs, assists with community events such as flag folding, hoisting the American Flag at Bronco football games, back to school bash hosted by USD 407 and National Night Out. The department also provides basic first aid and CPR training.