Grant County Fire District 3 releases updated strategic plan

QUINCY — As Grant County Fire District 3 grows, the need for services grows. That being the case, GCFD 3 officials prepared and released a new strategic plan to map out how they are going to meet those needs.

Chief David Durfee said the district officials will be reviewing it every year to see if they're heading in the preferred direction, or if circumstances have changed and the direction needs to change. 

"We're going to work to those goals over time," said GCFD 3 Commission Chair Randy Zolman.

Durfee said the idea is to use the district's resources as efficiently as possible.

"It's always keeping that long-term goal in mind. That will be the document that we use," he said. 

The plan examined district staffing, equipment and facilities, leadership development, GCFD 3's role in emergency medical services in the Quincy Valley, integrating technology into district operations and financial stability.

Fire district residents approved a "levy lid lift" in 2024, increasing the amount GCFD 3 was allowed to collect. Zolman said the levy assessment is where the district wants it, and commissioners and district officials are living within it. Durfee said the increase allows GCFD 3 to put money aside to build some reserves for needed upgrades. 

Fire District 3 depends on a mix of paid firefighters and volunteers.

"A hundred percent we still rely on volunteers, and I don't see that changing in the next five years," Durfee said.

Paid personnel are in residence at the fire station on Central Avenue South in Quincy, along with the stations in George and Crescent Bar. The other four have apparatus but no staff. 

The Quincy Valley is growing and the time may come when volunteers are phased out, as the demands on GCFD 3 grow. But that's not happening yet, Zolman said, and he doesn't see that happening anytime soon. 

Zolman said the paid firefighters usually make the first response with volunteers in support, and he expects that system to stay in place. Durfee said there's good rapport between the paid personnel and the volunteers. 

"Right now, it's a pretty good working team," Durfee said. 

The district continues to work on recruiting additional volunteers, Zolman said, and providing continuing education.

"We're always looking for more volunteers," Durfee said. 

It will be necessary to upgrade some GCFD 3 stations in the next five years, Zolman said, mostly the ones that are unmanned. Those are in the district's rural locations. 

"(Station) 33 is a major challenge," Zolman said, mainly because it's too small to accommodate modern equipment. 

District officials are looking for additional sources of funding, grants being one, to help pay some of the costs of construction. 

Fire District 3 has upgraded most of its fire equipment, with two new fire engines scheduled for delivery in 2027, Zolman said. But equipment wears out, and GCFD 3 officials want to make sure they have sufficient funds to replace them. 

"They are very expensive anymore," he said.

Fire district crews provide support during EMS calls, Zolman said, and most GCFD 3 personnel have some EMT certification. The Quincy Valley is served by an existing ambulance service, and Zolman said GCFD 3 officials want to be in a position to provide backup when necessary.