As of last week, Texas County has one less volunteer fire department.
The Huggins Fire Department final day of operation was Tuesday, March 15. Most of the department’s territory now falls within that of the Plato Fire Department, and its trucks and gear have been turned over to Plato. The Mountain Grove and Houston Rural departments have also absorbed a portion of the former Huggins area.
Wesley Shrode, chief of the now defunct Huggins FD, said a single factor made the move necessary: A lack of manpower.
“We were down to just a handful,” Shrode said. “Usually there were just a couple available at a given time, and sometimes only one. We just didn’t have enough involvement; we definitely weren’t in a financial pinch or anything like that, we just didn’t have the help we needed.”
The Huggins FD had been in operation since 1988. Plato FD Chief Victor Arrington said residents within the Huggins zone who have paid dues received letters early last week announcing the change.
“The surrounding fire departments have been very helpful,” Shrode said. “It’s been a fairly easy transition.”
Arrington said the Plato FD has 11 firefighters on its roster and four trucks (an engine, a tanker, a brush truck and a military-style pickup), while Huggins had six trucks (including an engine, a tanker and several brush trucks). He plans to keep the Huggins fire station – at Highway M and Astoria Road – open.
“We’re going to keep trucks there,” Arrington said, “and if we can get people to help us down there it will help a lot with response time. From the Plato station to the Huggins station is 15 miles.”
Arrington said a local citizen recently donated a parcel of land to the Plato FD, which has been cleared for the construction of a new fire station. The small existing station is adjacent to Plato High School, and the location of the future station is behind the post office.
“We’re working on it and looking for enough funding now,” Arrington said. “You can’t just put up a basic building; even the concrete is a big expense because you need to be able to park a truck full of 10,000 gallons of water on it.”
Shrode said the Huggins FD’s demise is representative of the overall state of volunteer firefighting.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more problems like this,” he said. “It’s so hard these days to get help, and a lot of the people who did help have left the area or passed away. For whatever reason, it’s really hard to find young firefighters. They’re very hard to come by – it’s just one of those things.
“And it’s a sad thing.”
Anyone with questions about the new Plato Fire Department set-up, or wishing to donate to the department or become a volunteer firefighter can call Arrington at 417-458-4940.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more problems like this.”
– WESLEY SHRODE