GFD reminds rural residents to get fire memberships

With the recent wildland fires across the state, the Guthrie Fire Department wants to remind citizens that if you live outside the Guthrie City Limits, there is a rural fire membership program available. 

The city offers to all rural residents that are located within our fire response area the option to subscribe to a fire subscription plan. This is a subscription-based membership service for fire services performed outside the city limits of the city. Such services include, but are not limited to, structure fires, vehicle fires, grass fires, hazardous conditions, and rescue/recovery/extrication services. There is an annual $100 fee to the city. Each incident where fire services are provided to a member of the Rural Fire Subscription plan at a location outside the city limits is free.

Whenever the Guthrie Fire Department enters the property of a rural resident and provides any fire services, the property owner will be billed for the service according to a fee schedule established by the Guthrie City Council in 2007.  When a fire involves multiple properties, each property owner is billed for the services provided to their property; those charges are normally manpower and equipment. It is up to the property owner to collect any damages or reimbursement from the responsible party.  It is also up to the property owner to check with their insurance on possible coverage of the bill.

The rural fire memberships are available at Guthrie City Hall, 101 N. 2nd Avenue in Guthrie, at the utility billing window on the 2nd floor or on the city’s website at www.cityofguthrie.com.

As always, if you have any questions pertaining to this program or fire protection in Guthrie, please call the Fire Chief Eric Harlow at (405) 282-2280.