Construction is underway on Guthrie’s second fire station as the Guthrie Fire Department prepares for continued growth in its service area and invests in new equipment through a series of grants.
Fire Chief Dane Lausen discussed the station, new ambulances, firefighter safety equipment, and other department updates during a recent appearance on the Chris Evans Podcast. Lausen, who became chief in 2023 and has been with the department since 2009, said the department has considerable momentum.
Station No. 2 underway
The new station is being built at Sooner Road and South Division Street, next to SouthPointe Baptist Church. Lausen said construction crews had begun moving dirt at the site, with an anticipated opening in June or July 2027.
The location will put firefighters closer to Guthrie Lake, Liberty Lake, southern Logan County and portions of Interstate 35. Lausen said his mapping showed the station could provide faster access to much of the department’s coverage area than the current central station.
“When seconds count,” the closer location can make a difference, Lausen said.
He also said the new station could allow more residents around the lakes to benefit from the department’s ISO Class 2 rating and provide a location for a boat dedicated to Guthrie and Liberty lakes.
The department’s total coverage area spans approximately 510 square miles, Lausen said. Personnel and equipment will be divided between the two stations, with some adjustments expected as crews settle into the new operation.
Grants support equipment and training
Among the department’s largest awards is a $370,500 Assistance to Firefighters Grant that Lausen said will replace the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, equipment used by firefighters entering smoke-filled structures.
The grant will provide 37 new air packs, 74 bottles, and new face pieces. Lausen said some of the department’s existing bottles had expired, requiring Deputy Chief Blake Braden to find used replacements.
“This one has kept me up ever since I took over in 2023,” Lausen said of the aging equipment. “I’m just very thankful and humbled that we got this grant.”
A separate $350,000 grant will help purchase a new ambulance, which Lausen estimated will cost approximately $440,000. The ambulance is expected to arrive around May or June 2027. A second ambulance is being remounted, giving the department two updated units by the summer, he said.
Lausen said ambulances see heavy use. One placed in service the previous October had accumulated approximately 35,000 miles, despite rotating with other units.
The department also received approximately $135,000 for work on a new tanker and a heavy brush tanker. The tanker planned for Station No. 2 will carry 3,000 gallons of water and will be built on a donated cab and chassis. The brush tanker will carry 1,500 gallons, Lausen said.
Other awards discussed during the podcast include:
- $500,000 for a training facility through a partnership with Meridian Technology Center. Plans include separate training classrooms, a backup dispatch site, and a fire training tower.
- $46,000 for medical equipment, allowing the department to purchase two cardiac monitors and two ventilators already placed in service.
- $3,000 from BNSF Railway toward a drone that could help crews assess wildfire conditions and provide an aerial view of emergency scenes.
- $2,000 from Walmart to support the department’s smoke detector and battery program.
Lausen credited Braden, the department’s deputy chief, for helping secure funding and taking on additional responsibilities. Braden has been with the department since 2014.
Calls and staffing continue to grow
Lausen said the department is on pace to reach 5,000 calls for the year. To help meet demand, the department has added seven full-time positions since 2024 and uses part-time paramedics to assist with calls.
The chief said the part-time personnel help keep full-time firefighters available at the station when medical calls come in.
The department also continues to help residents with smoke detectors. Lausen said anyone within the fire district who needs a detector or replacement batteries can contact the station or complete a form online to arrange a visit.
Residents can also register their storm shelters with the department. Lausen said the information is entered into the dispatch system with geographic coordinates, helping emergency responders locate shelters after a tornado or other disaster.
For more on the fire department’s projects and operations, watch the full conversation with Lausen on the Chris Evans Podcast.
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