Guthrie Fire and EMS continues to see increasing demands on its services as call volumes rise and coverage responsibilities expand across Logan County.
The department’s EMS district covers more than 500 square miles, while its fire protection district spans approximately 140 square miles. In addition to serving the City of Guthrie, the department frequently assists neighboring agencies through mutual aid. With volunteer fire departments not always available, Guthrie Fire is often tasked with serving as the first responding agency in volunteer districts.
The department operates out of a single station with three rotating crews — red, blue, and green — each consisting of 11 team members. The department is led by Fire Chief Dane Lausen and Deputy Chief Blake Braden.
To help manage the growing EMS workload, Guthrie Fire has implemented a part-time paramedic program. Five part-time paramedics assist by taking first-out EMS calls, allowing full-time personnel to remain in service and available for additional emergencies.
“It has been a very successful program that helps relieve some of the pressure on our frontline personnel,” Lausen said.
The department’s workload has steadily increased over the past decade, with 2025 marking the highest call volume on record. In addition to the increase in total calls, the department is also responding to more simultaneous incidents. In 2009, approximately 13 percent of calls were overlapped. That figure has grown to nearly 41 percent, meaning crews are increasingly handling multiple emergencies at the same time.
To address current needs and prepare for future growth, plans are moving forward for a second fire station. A new station on South Division Street near Sooner Road has been approved and is currently in the design phase. Related article: City of Guthrie purchases land for future fire and EMS station
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