2023-2024 Odessa City Guide Page 10 FireOdessa Fire & Rescue Protection District Odessa Fire and Rescue Protection District was organized in 1993, after years of service as a City of Odessa and Rural Fire Association. In 2020, the district underwent the largest change since its founding with the addition of ambulance service and allhours staffing. The District operates under a publicly elected Board of Directors. Marty McDermed serves as board chairman. Robert Hotmer is board secretary, and Grant Kuhlmann is board treasurer of the five-member board which also includes Ruth Ann Dillon and Norman Brodeur as directors. The directors of the district hold a regularly scheduled monthly meeting the third Wednesday of each month. In April 2019, residents of the district voted for additional taxes for the district to provide ambulance service in the area, which was previously provided by the City of Odessa. With the addition of EMS in 2020, district began to offer 24hour in-house staffing. Non-emergency telephone line 633-7182 is in operation from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The district’s six-bay fire station at the corner of Dryden and Third streets was dedicated in 1995. Insurance rating for the City of Odessa or any property within five miles of the Odessa station or within five miles of any of its automatic aid stations is “5”. Properties not within five miles of any station may have a higher ISO rating. The District, which covers 101 square miles, has made many improvements since 1895, when the first department used a team of horses owned by G.B. Thatcher to pull the ladder wagon. District equipment includes a 2022 ambulance, a 2017 ambulance, 2003 engine, 2000 engine, 1993 75-foot ladder truck, 2006 tanker and 2017 tanker. The District also has three brush trucks, the newest purchased in 2016, and one utility truck in its fleet. Through the years, miscellaneous equipment, firefighter turnout gear and rescue equipment upgrades also have been purchased. District has nine full-time employees and around 25 employees total. All full-time and most part-time employees are certified in both fire and EMS. Roger Kratz and Kim Shook serve as district co-chiefs. Brandon Flathers is the captain. In January 2020 the Odessa Fire and Rescue Protection District became the area’s EMS service provider.
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