Pershing County’s volunteer fire department has a new chief, and his opening message to commissioners was straightforward: protect life, protect property, and tighten the department’s operations so responders can do their jobs faster and safer.
Rich Wagner, newly appointed fire chief for Pershing County, introduced himself during the Commission meeting last week, saying he is “honored and humbled” to serve and that he has the support of his current employer as he steps into the volunteer leadership role.
Wagner said the fire department’s mission is simple in principle though “sometimes complex” in practice, centering on emergency response, prevention, and public education. He told commissioners he is setting expectations for leadership built on “honesty and respect,” calm and decisive decision-making, and strong communication.
“Our people come first,” Wagner said, adding that he hopes his working relationship with commissioners will reflect the same values, transparency and consistent support so the department can be successful.
Wagner said his first 90 days will focus on organization, readiness, and clearer internal expectations for members and leadership.
One of his first initiatives is a “5S” project, an approach commonly used in industry to improve workplace efficiency and safety by sorting, organizing, cleaning, standardizing, and maintaining discipline. Wagner described the goal as ensuring “a place for everything” at both the old and new fire department facilities, so crews can locate equipment quickly and respond without delays.
The department will also prioritize making sure equipment is in good repair, Wagner said, noting that apparatus readiness is essential in a rural county where response times and distance already create challenges.
Wagner reported that, since Dec. 17, the department has 16 members on its roster and recently added Ashley Mills as a new member.
Calls for service in the same period included four fire calls and three rescue calls, he said.
Wagner gave commissioners an update on key equipment returning to service.
He said the Grumman pump has been received and is being installed, with the expectation the apparatus will return to the department “within the next couple of weeks.”
Wagner also discussed progress on the department’s rescue truck, which he said may be back in service toward the end of January. He described ongoing work including interior and electrical components like lights and electronics, and emphasized the importance of the rescue unit for highway incidents requiring extrication tools.
Some of the work is being handled in-house, Wagner said, with an eye toward cost savings.
Wagner said one of the department’s most urgent public-facing goals is expanding education around carbon monoxide, following recent incidents in the community that included fatalities.
“To me, the prevention of that is ensuring that people understand what that looks like in their home, how to detect it, and ensure that their home and their families are protected,” Wagner said.
He said the department intends to create a digital information page to help push accurate prevention and detection information out to the public, and he asked commissioners for additional avenues to reach residents.
Commissioners and staff suggested distributing information through county and city channels, including websites, noting connections through youth programming and said 4-H activities that reach families could be another avenue for getting safety information into homes.
Wagner said he welcomed that approach, noting the urgency of reinforcing prevention information after what the community has recently experienced.
While Wagner’s remarks focused on immediate operational priorities, he also framed the work as part of a longer effort to build consistency within the department from equipment readiness to training opportunities and public engagement.
He told commissioners he is looking forward to a productive partnership, and commissioners encouraged him to continue reporting either in person or by Zoom when needed, noting they preferred in-person appearances when possible.
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