New Fire Marshal Hired

The Southern Stone County Fire Protection District has hired a new fire marshal from the Baltimore, Md., area.

Mike Creswell, whose first day on the job was Nov. 28, replaces the district’s former marshal, David Gyger, who was promoted to chief this summer. Gyger had served in the position since 2006.

After his tours of duty ended, he interviewed for two jobs. One was the position he ultimately accepted, the other would have been as a NASA fire inspector at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. “I chose this job because it is so beautiful out here,” he said. “I love it. The people are so friendly and warm. They have just welcomed me into their family.” Creswell, a father of an 11-year-old daughter, said the attractions provided in the Branson area were also a big draw.

As fire marshal, Creswell’s duties will include performing inspections for commercial properties, leading investigations into suspicious fires and being part of a six-man rotation that takes turns serving as “chief on duty.” Creswell said that one of the biggest differences he will need to adjust to in his new position is the large number of volunteer firefighters in the district, individuals he prefers to call “unpaid professionals.”

“With us having a predominantly unpaid-professional staff, we may sometimes have fewer firefighters available than what I’m used to,” he said. “And with the large base of commercial properties we have, I think that’s going to put a heavy burden on myself and our other inspector.” Still, it’s not a challenge that is particularly worrisome to Creswell.

“I’ve been trained to do whatever I can to ensure people have safe places to not just live, but also work and play,” he said. “And also, to ensure our unpaid professionals go home to their families just the way they came, safe and sound.”

The Southern Stone County Fire Protection District manages 15 stations and covers approximately 280 square miles. 

SSCFPD Announces New Fire Chief

Branson West, Stone County, Missouri, July 8, 2011 –   The Southern Stone County Fire Protection District Board of Directors has hired a new fire chief and training officer.

In a special board meeting Thursday night the board of directors announced their selection for SSCFPD’s new fire chief, is their current Fire Marshall David Gyger. Their announcement was received with applause from the mixed audience of firefighters and citizens.

Board Chairperson Jennifer Henderson said, “We are pleased with our final selection of fire chief and have all the confidence in David Gyger to exceed our high expectations for this position.”

Fire Chief Gyger was hired in 2006 as the fire marshal for SSCFPD. Gyger is a graduate of Forsyth High School. Over his career he was an EMT for Taney County Ambulance, Assistant Fire Chief for Nixa Fire Protection District for 9 years and Fire Chief, Emergency Management Director, Code Enforcement Officer, and Building Inspector for the City of Forsyth.

Fire Chief Gyger has spent many hours as the on duty fire chief during his tenure as Fire Marshall and has built a great relationship with the volunteers.  Gyger will assume his new position as Fire Chief on July 25th.

Chairperson Jennifer Henderson also announced that a new training chief had been selected. Tom Cooksey current South Battalion Chief for Southern Stone County Fire has been hired as the new training officer. Tom is currently a Captain with Logan Rogersville Fire Department and will make his move to a full time position with SSCFPD immediately. Henderson also indicated their high expectation for this position but was certain Tom would exceed their expectations.

Fall Fire Safety Tips

By Mark Newsom, Public Information - Southern Stone County Fire Protection District

Winterizing your home in the fall is a sensible thing to do and can save you money. Draining your garden hoses and sprinkler systems, having your heating system serviced, and repair damaged windows and drafty exterior doors help to keep a home running efficiently throughout the winter months. However, a lot of people don't realize their home is at a greater risk of fire in winter months. Fall fire safety tips can prepare home owners from possible carbon monoxide poisoning and structure fires.

Most fall/winter safety tips are based on good old common sense. One tip is to change the batteries in all of your home's smoke detectors at the same time you adjust your cocks for Daylight Savings. Changing the batteries every six months prevents detectors from going dead. Another good idea is to inspect and clean your chimney. Creosote can build up in flues and chimineys from smoke and can cause fires that can easily get out of hand and cause major structural damage. It's recommended you clean the chimney each year before using the fireplace. Space heaters can also be a fire hazard,and it is recommended to create a safe area around the heater. Any furniture or other flamable objects should be at least three feet away from any space heater.

Another tip involves creating a defensible space around your house to protect it from possible nearby brush or structure fires. Trees should be a minimum of 30 feet away from the house. Ffallen branches and leaves should be removed for the area limit fuel for a fire. These safety points even help homeowners prepare for holidays. Homeowners are encouraged to use battery powered lights in Halloween Jack o'Lanterns to prevent accidents. Christmas tree lights should also be inspected before use and monitored carefully, especially on real trees.

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