Salt Creek Emergency Services, a volunteer department, relies on donated vehicles and a small budget as repair bills, fuel costs and equipment needs continue to climb

By Hannah Ward
Casper Star Tribune

MIDWEST, Wyo. — For some rural fire and emergency response districts, rising costs for emergency vehicles and repairs are noticeable — and increased diesel costs are only adding to the burden.

The cost of fire apparatus—custom-built emergency response vehicles—has risen significantly in recent years due to volatile material prices, changing regulations, and a roughly 43% increase in demand, according to Fire Apparatus Magazine (September issue).

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Rising diesel prices—now averaging more than $5.20 per gallon—are adding further strain on rural districts that already operate with limited budgets.

Salt Creek Emergency Services, staffed entirely by volunteers, provides coverage to the communities of Midwest and Edgerton. Chief Riley DeWitt told the Star-Tribune that the department receives no financial support from Natrona County and instead relies largely on donated vehicles to maintain its fleet.

With an annual budget of just $33,000, the department is especially vulnerable to large expenses, and DeWitt said that repair bills running into the thousands of dollars, along with elevated diesel costs, place a significant strain on its finances.

“The cost of keeping these trucks is insane,” DeWitt said.

Last year, the Natrona County Fire Protection District donated a 13-year-old brush truck to Salt Creek Emergency Services as part of its own fleet replacement process, DeWitt said.

Salt Creek now operates five additional vehicles: two state forestry trucks, two older brush trucks donated by the oil industry, and a truck purchased in 2013 through pooled funding from the towns it serves.

“The oil companies here have always been good to us, on helping us out when we need it as much as they can,” DeWitt said, “but at the same time, they’re limited in what they can give.”

Salt Creek is “absolutely always” thinking about the future and has applied for grants and used trucks through the Wyoming State Forestry Division and the Bureau of Land Management.

As this year’s fire season grows dangerously dry, Salt Creek has been warning residents about fire risks through Facebook and preparing for low water levels in its few prairie stock ponds, Chief DeWitt said.

Cindy Aars, clerk of the Salt Creek Joint Powers Board, said all expenses for the emergency services district are shouldered entirely by the towns of Midwest and Edgerton.

“That can be a really big hit or burden for our towns to have to support that whenever we have something that runs down, or God forbid, we need something new,” Aars said. “We’re pretty much on our own out here.”

Salt Creek Emergency Services received a one-time grant of $35,000 to replace decades-old gear with new personal protective equipment for its 11 volunteer firefighters.

“We had been in need of that for a long time,” Aars said.

Several years ago, Anadarko donated roughly $1 million for a new ambulance, Aars said, but the department has since been responsible for all ongoing maintenance and upkeep.

Aars added that Natrona County does reimburse Salt Creek for the fuel used during emergency runs within the county’s service area.

“We’re just extremely fortunate that we have such a dedicated group of volunteers who are here,” Aars said.

How is your fire or EMS agency dealing with rising apparatus, fuel and maintenance costs? Share your experience in the comments.

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