Training seminar by IVFD to focus on farmers’ help

    A Dec. 15 fire northwest of Imperial reaffirmed the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department’s desire to provide information to area farmers, who are often on the scene at big grass fires.
    That’s the reason behind a Farmer Training Seminar being planned by IVFD members on Saturday, Feb. 12.
    The two-hour classroom seminar will be held at the Imperial fire hall, 315 Broadway. from 10 a.m. to noon.
    Kelsey Weiss, IVFD 2nd Assistant Chief, said the fire department has wanted to provide a seminar like this for some time.
    “After the fire near Lamar, it just reaffirmed that—to provide them some basic knowledge and to help keep them safe,” Weiss said.
    The “windy fire,” as the Dec. 15 fire has been called, burned close to 500 acres amidst high winds. Several farmers were on scene with disks, tractors and other equipment to help where they could, Weiss said.
    “They had a lot of questions on what to do and where to be,” he said.
    Weiss said the Feb. 12 seminar will be directed to farmers, and all from the area are invited. There will be no maximum number on attendance.
    There will be several presentations by IVFD officers and members, along with some power points. They’ll discuss use of the ag equipment and how to be most effective in aiding the firefighters, he said.
    Other topics will include weather, water tankers and communication, he said.
    With direct information on how best farmers can help on the scene, Weiss said it’s his hope the large, threatening fires can be slowed or stopped.
    A free lunch in the hall will follow the seminar at noon.
    Farmers planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Feb. 4 to Fire Chief Doug Mitchell, 308-882-8306, or to Weiss, 308-882-1644.