Johnson County Fire District No. 2 "Serving Johnson and Miami County, KS"
Welcome to the Fire District No. 2 history and heritage portion of our website.

As Fire Chief it is an honor and a privilege to share our department’s present status and to reflect on our past.

Our Fire District is governed by a five (5) member Board of Directors appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Our Board is dedicated to providing the best possible services to our patrons and continues to provide fiscal responsibility, policy and direction to accomplish our Mission-Purpose-Values.

Presently our department consists of 60 members, with 42 members assigned to the Operations Division separated into three battalions which includes: 3 (three) Battalion Chiefs; 12 Captains; 12 Fire Apparatus Operators; 15 Firefighter/EMTs. There are currently 11 part-time and volunteer members. There are 3 (three) other Divisions that support the organization, each with a Manager providing oversight and accountability. The offices of Fire Chief and Deputy Chief are supported by two Administrative Assistants. The Fire District also has a part-time Medical Director.

Our department provides 24/7/365 premier services from four stations located strategically throughout our district. Our service area is comprised of approximately 90 square miles of Johnson County and 70 square miles of Miami County.

The professional men and women of Fire District No. 2 are truly dedicated to the mission of our department and are pleased to be able to provide comprehensive quality services to our patrons.

In 2007 our department participated in an ISO reclassification. This was a two year process of preparation, change and hard work by all of our dedicated members. The reward for everyone’s efforts was lowering our Class 5 (five) to a Class 3 (three). This mark of distinction places us with only 35 other fire departments in Kansas.

Also in 2007 our department embarked on a strategic planning process. After over six months of internal and external review and discovery our Board of Directors approved a five year Strategic Plan in 2008. The plan commences in 2009 and ends in 2013.

In 2007, a general obligation bond was passed by our Board with the intent of replacing our fleet of engines, ambulances and adding an aerial. The outcome of that financial initiative is a fleet of innovative vehicles that will further advance our preeminent services into the next decade. All the front-line fire apparatus will be CAFS equipped, making our department the only department in the county to provide this extensive capability.

Our fire department has a long history of commitment and tradition. Additionally, we have a long history of being innovative leaders in the fire service.

Our current department has a rich history which comes from uniting seven different fire departments, four different governing boards and one city government.

The past fire departments were: City of Spring Hill Fire Department; Fire Department Association of Stanley; Stanley Volunteer Fire Department; Spring Hill Rural Fire Department; Aubry Township Volunteer Fire Department; South Johnson County Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc.; and Fire District No. 2, Johnson County, Kansas (as we are known today).

Over the years, there have been a total of five governing bodies: Johnson County Fire District No. 2; Aubry Fire Board; Spring Hill Rural Fire Board, Stanley Fire Board, and the City of Spring Hill.

Our history dates back to the formation of the City of Spring Hill in 1857. It is unknown exactly when the city fire department was formed, but the first fire apparatus was a “hand pumper”. It remained in service until 1928 when replaced by a motorized soda-acid wagon. The first pumper was purchased in the 1930’s from the US Naval Air Station (now known as the New Century Airport). A need for improved fire protection in the rural Townships in Johnson and Miami Counties brought about the Spring Hill Rural Fire Department in 1951. With the desire to provide additional service to its patrons, the department added a “rescue car” in 1967 to respond to medical emergencies. This was a cooperative effort with the City of Spring Hill. The Spring Hill Fire Department was in place until 1992.

In 1936 the Fire Department Association of Stanley was formed by those who lived in or near the community of Stanley. The first fire apparatus was a Model “T” Ford with a 100 gallon tank. To flow water, chemicals were mixed at the scene to make the water come out of the tank. A number of years later; members of the community formed the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, which was in place until 1991. In the late 1950’s the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department responded as far north as 83rd Street and as far west as I-35. In 1959 an innovative addition was made; high school seniors were trained to respond to fires in the daytime during the school year. This tradition was maintained until 1973 when a new high school was built.

In 1974 the Board of County Commissioners created Fire District No. 2, County of Johnson, Kansas. The purpose of this fire district was to provide improved fire protection to the rural areas surrounding Stanley, Stilwell, and Spring Hill. The Board contracted services with the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, Spring Hill Rural Fire Department and the Aubry Township Volunteer Fire Department following its creation in 1974.

The Aubry Township Volunteer Fire Department did not become operational until 1975. The first fire engine was a 1975 John Bean. The following year (1976) a “rescue car” was placed in service to respond to medical emergencies. The department was in place until 1992.

South Johnson County Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc. was created in 1992 and represented the merger of Spring Hill Fire Department, Spring Hill Rural Fire Department and Aubry Township Volunteer Fire Department. The department was often called “South County”. Prior to the merger, Fire District No. 2 purchased ground to build two additional fire stations. Fire station 2 was built at 18475 Mission Rd. and Fire Station 3 was built at 19065 Lackman Rd. The primary objective of the department was to provide full-time staffing, 24/7, from four fire stations and to reduce overall response times. The department was in place until 1999.

During the course of our history many individuals emerged as leaders in the county’s fire service. In an attempt to immortalize and honor their names here are just of few of the many who were dedicated to their communities.

Melvin Murry became the first full time employee and Chief in 1976 for the City of Spring Hill Fire Department. He held the position of Chief until 1989 when he relinquished his role to Allen Smith. Brad Becker followed Allen Smith as Fire Chief. Under Chief Murry’s Administration the department advanced to having three paid members (George Scott, Curtis Jenkins and Nick Montee) on-duty 24/7.

Homer Rawie was the first Chief of the Fire Department Association of Stanley. Other founders of the department included F.G. Allison, P.L. Kellogg, Luther Crust, Ralph Kuntz, A.H. Crooks, George Knoche, Charley Campbell, Earnest Kellogg, and Walt Maelzer.

Over the course of time, notable members of Stanley Volunteer Fire Department emerged. They include: Chester Roberts (Past President), Herb Laughlin (past Chief), G.E. “Butch” Lowman (Chief from 1977 to 1991), Al Dedrick, Ron Boyd, John Kuntz (past Chief), Steve Blann and Scott Lowman. Under Chief Lowman’s Administration, the department advanced to staffing the station 24/7.

Johnson County Fire District No. 2 Board Members included: Banner Stephenson, President; Bob Londerholm, Secretary; Loren Locke, Treasurer; Wendell Doolittle, and Bill Russell.

The founding Aubry Fire Board consisted of: Clyde Smith, Art Verhaeghe, Dean Barber and Francis Eder. Other Fire Board members included: Dick Weisser, President; Cecil Soeken, Treasurer; Larry Milbourn, Tim Gnau, Gene Ponte, John Hawker, and Dick Galamba.

Notable members of Aubry Township Volunteer Fire Department included: Jerry Strack (Former Chief of Leawood); Dennis Thomason (Former Captain at Leawood); Stan Parker (First Paid Fire Chief); Mike Lindekin (First Asst. Chief); Ernie Hodges (First Captain); and Carolyn Parker (First EMS Captain). Other valued members include: Jim Wilson, Charlie Folsom, Don Driggs, Dick Galamba (Captain), Harry (Captain) and Shirley Graham, Dwane Smith (Captain), Mark Thomas (Captain), Jim Francis (Captain), Steve Paschang (Lt), Paul Ross (Lt.), Larry Messer (FF), Jim Brady (FF), and Larry Petit (FF).

Immediately following the merger of the Aubry Fire Department and the Spring Hill Fire Department, South Johnson County Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. was created. This newly created fire department was governed by a five member board that contracted with Fire District No. 2, County of Johnson, Kansas. Board members for SJCFD included: Dick Weisser, Director, Dick Galamba, John Morgan, Jack Pool, Robert Vasques, and Don Stephens.

Dick Weisser became the Director for SJCFD immediately following the merger. Ed Morrison was hired as the Chief of Operations when the organization first started. Brad Becker was named the Asst. Chief of Operations. Following Chief Morrison’s departure in 1993, Brad Becker became the Operations Chief. In early 1997, Mark Thomas and Jim Francis became the Operations and Training Chiefs. Dwane Smith was later promoted to Fire Marshal in the late 1990’s.

In the fall of 1998, the South Johnson County Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. Board of Directors started discussion with Fire District No. 2 about the District assuming control of the overall operations. South Johnson County Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. (formerly known as “South County”) was dissolved shortly after the first of the year in 1999.

In 1999, Fire District No. 2 Board of Directors voted to become the employer of the personnel who were working for South Johnson County Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. During this period, South Johnson County Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. (SJCFD) dissolved the corporation and members became employed by the Fire District. SJCFD Director, Dick Weisser, retired from the Department at that time after spending many years dealing with the department’s administrative matters. Volunteer Captain and Board member Dick Galamba also left the department at that time. Both Weisser and Galamba were very instrumental in transitioning the department from a volunteer staff to a well trained staff of full-time firefighters housed at four locations.

The fire district had previously owned all equipment and facilities being used to operate the fire department so the transition was seamless. Following the fire district’s assumption of the operations of the fire department, Jim Francis and Mark Thomas became Co-Fire Chiefs of the organization. Shortly after that, Jerry Holly was promoted to the Assistant Chief of Prevention replacing retired Fire Marshal Dwane Smith.

During the first few years of operation as a fire district, department staffing levels were increased to provide a minimum of 3 (three) firefighters (1 (one) Capt., 1 (one) FAO, 1 (one) FF) at all stations. The department also formed a water rescue team to address the rising needs at Hillsdale Lake and surrounding communities. In 2003, Jeff Johnson was hired as the Chief of Training for the Department. In July of 2003, a new fire station at 20500 W. 207th Street opened replacing the existing Spring Hill Fire Station at 100 W. Nichols. A Med-Act PAR unit was added to the station at that time. In May of 2005, the fire district added 24-hour Battalion Fire Chiefs that were assigned to the Spring Hill Station. In April of 2007, Fire Chiefs Jim Francis and Mark Thomas stepped down as Co-Chiefs of the Department. Chief Francis became the Deputy Chief and the District Board of Directors named Jeff Johnson as Fire Chief.

It is easily determined; our current fire department has a heritage dating back well over 100 years. Over the course of time the repeated theme held true by all those men and women who have served either as Firefighters or as Board Members; the community always comes first.

Again, it is a distinct honor and a cherished privilege to share our history and heritage with you.