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Tusayan fire department anticipating busy tourist season

Tusayan Fire Chief Greg Brush anticipates a busy year ahead for Tusayan Fire Department. Loretta Yerian/WGCN

Tusayan Fire Chief Greg Brush anticipates a busy year ahead for Tusayan Fire Department. Loretta Yerian/WGCN

TUSAYAN, Ariz. - The Tusayan Fire Department continues to respond to numerous traffic accident calls along the Highway 64 corridor and anticipates an increase in these and other calls with the upcoming tourist season and the ongoing National Park Centennial celebration this year.

The fire department gave an update on current budget and operations at the Feb. 3 town council meeting.

"We all know (visitation) has been going up and up in the last couple of years and we are expecting higher call volume," said Fire Chief Greg Brush.

The department expressed their appreciation for the financial support of the town council and the community.

"We thank you so much for all the support you've given to us in this last year," Brush said. "We are trying to provide the best services we can and safety for the town of Tusayan, all the visitors and the Grand Canyon community. We are hoping the town of Tusayan will continue to provide the current level of financial support that they've provided in the past."

In February 2015, Tusayan Fire Department requested and received $75,000 in short-term financial assistance from the council to help cover the department's bills for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. The department requested both short and long term financial assistance from the town council in 2015 after the department stated they would not be able to meet their financial obligations.

Councilman Al Montoya asked the department if they could give a more detailed account of where the money provided was being used.

"I was kind of hoping for a little more meat on the bone as to where all the money is going," Montoya said. "How many help calls are you getting that are fender benders? It would give me a better idea of actual emergency calls, in-town calls and some of the other things as well - where are the boundaries for Williams and here. I wanted to see what kind of conversations have been going on as to how they can relieve some of the issues (of responses). Funding is secondary to me except for the accountability of the funding."

Brush and Tusayan Fire District Board Member John Vail said the department continues to face ongoing financial issues and are looking at additional ways to supplement their income. Additionally, Brush said the department will need to replace its ambulance this year.

"As far as the calls, I don't have really specific statistics for you but to throw a number out there I would say 90 percent (are) medical calls overall," he said. "We have a higher proportion of car accidents than most fire districts. Car accidents, including elk are up there."

Brush said the department has also been working to increase the number of volunteers at the department.

"We have done everything we can to try to get the word out," he said. "The good thing is that we have three solid people on the schedule, which is a big help."

In addition to working with its paid employees, the department plans to implement a new schedule to help accommodate staff, volunteers and budget needs.

"My goal is to get three people on for six out of the seven days of the week," Brush said. "This would be a major step forward, not just for the coverage but it's also a competitive thing. We're trying to solicit firefighters from out of town. It's something we're hoping to implement in the next month."

Vice Mayor John Rueter thanked the department for its continued efforts and for the update.

More information about volunteering at Tusayan Fire Department is available from the department at (928) 638-3473.


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