Fayette County commissioners reviewed and approved a plan to safeguard fire apparatus and equipment should the Smithers Fire Department be decertified. County staff said Montgomery and Boomer volunteer fire departments would temporarily cover calls and that large apparatus would be reassigned until the new Station 18 can receive and store equipment.

The county presented a written plan of action and an equipment inventory compiled by county staff and fire association representatives. The package included a prioritized list of apparatus to reallocate if Smithers is decertified, and a separate inventory of trucks and equipment the county previously purchased that are located at Smithers. County staff said priority would be given to engines needed by nearby chiefs (including Chief Vernon) when deciding where to place vehicles.

Commission staff said one vehicle would revert to the county until a Station 18 building is available and smaller equipment could be stored in county “convex boxes” until the new fire station is ready. Staff also said they would coordinate with department leaders to distribute equipment when a need arises and that certain trucks would be sent to manufacturers for repair if required.

County staff identified a hearing on the Smithers decertification scheduled for Dec. 3 in Morgantown at 1:30 p.m., and said county representatives plan to attend to represent the association. The county also agreed to copy the fire association on a pending letter to the state fire marshal summarizing the county’s views and the inventory list.

Commissioners approved a related motion earlier in the meeting to transfer an unused vehicle from the 9-1-1 center to the Fayette County Volunteer Fire Department (referred to in paperwork as Station 18). Commissioners and volunteer representatives discussed short-term use conflicts and confirmed the paperwork lists the official Station 18 name.

Staff wrote that until a Station 18 facility is built, Montgomery and Boomer departments will house larger trucks and that smaller items will be kept under county inventory control. The plan calls for oversight, inventory control, financial-account review and, if necessary, storage or redistribution of equipment to departments with operational needs.

No formal policy changes were adopted; the commission accepted the plan and approved the vehicle transfer and said staff would follow up on storage and distribution logistics.