OTTUMWA —
Ottumwa Fire Chief Tony Miller said he’s received several calls asking if the Ottumwa Fire Department is taking over Wapello County Rural Fire and Rescue — and that’s not the case.
“It came to a head a couple days ago when some of our firefighters were out doing a fire extinguisher presentation,” Miller said. “We always have time for questions after and the first question out was, ‘What’s this about you taking over Wapello County Rural Fire?’”
It’s not going to happen, Miller said. The departments are two separate entities who have a good working relationship.
“We can’t figure out why these rumors are happening,” Miller said.
The two departments provide each other mutual aid when needed.
“Us taking over Wapello County Rural Fire would be like the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series,” Miller said, tongue-in-cheek.
Lawrence Schmitz, chairman of the Wapello County Rural Fire board, said while past city officials have tried to cast the rural department in a bad financial light, that’s not the case.
“They have no financial troubles,” Schmitz said. “It’s not like we’re out there throwing money down the street, but we’re current on everything. There is no reason for anybody to suck us up.”
Schmitz said the rural department has a good relationship with Ottumwa Fire and every other department in the county.
Wapello County Rural Fire — a volunteer-driven department — just celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The department covers six townships, Richland, Center, Dahlonega, Green, Cass and Keokuk, and the town of Chillicothe.
Wapello County
Ottumwa Fire not taking over Wapello County Rural Fire
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