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Fire Chief Mal-

lott discusses

challenges for rural

fire departments

JEFF DORRIS “We went from open
jdorris@dddnews.com cab trucks to enclosed
cab trucks and from
John Mallott is quickly approaching wearing cotton fire
thirty years as Fire Chief of Kennett and coats to wearing no
during that time he’s seen many improve- necks and other mate-
ments but the challenges of the rural fire rial that are more resis-
departments remain. tant to fire, he said.”
Mallott recently reflected on his long “It’s an education pro-
career in firefighting and discussed some cess even today when
of the issues facing firefighters today. you go to another de- Chief John Mallot
Mallott was hired as Fire Chief of Ken- partment, you look at
nett on January 2, 1989. the equipment they hinders the smaller departments is get-
“Prior to that I was in Sikeston for about have and you look at the people that vol- ting adequate training. Missouri is about
ten years,” said Mallott. “I started out in unteer and then you come back to your 50th in the nation when it comes to re-
1975 as a volunteer firefighter for the City of own department and you realize how sources for firefighting. There are train-
Morehouse. I was 19 at the time.” fortunate you are to have what you work ing sites throughout Arkansas to train
“I had met my wife when I was younger with,” said Mallott. firefighters. The state of Missouri does
and I was able to get a job with the First Mallott stated that the rural fire depart- not own a single training facility. There is
National Bank of Memphis and I was work- ments continue to face challenges. very little, if any, equipment to train with
ing in Sikeston at their computer center,” “The big challenge facing us now is and we have no minimum training stan-
he said. “I worked nights and there wasn’t with the losing of the factories, we’re dard.”
much to do in a small town.” down about half of what we need as A new danger for firefighters are the
Mallott continued, “In Morehouse they firefighters,” informed Mallott. “A lot of health issues attributed to the job.
really needed someone for daytime fire- people are driving further away to work, “What’s killing firefighters is not line of
fighter. I joined and the first couple of fires working ten hours a day, they don’t have duty, it’s post line of duty after they retire
I went to it seemed a little exciting. I guess time to come in here two or three nights from cancer,” informed Mallott. “A lot of
it was one of those bugs that grab hold of a month to do training that’s initial to it is neck and face, the groin area and
you and it just fit my niche. It was what I their career. Training is a life insurance breast cancer in the females.”
really wanted to do.” policy for a firefighter. What’s facing the Mallott shares that a majority of these
Later, Mallott was hired as a full time fire- rural firefighter is recruiting volunteer cancers are caused by the hydrocarbon
fighter in Sikeston. firefighters and retaining them and fund- based enviroment the firefighters have
While there his fire chief encouraged the ing.” to work in.
young firefighter to obtain his firefighter Mallott stated the biggest dilemma “We have synthetic rugs, synthetic
certification and fire instructor certification that faces the rural fire departments is materials on couches, synthetic drapes
and link up with University of Missouri Fire funding. and carpeting and synthetic tiles and li-
Rescue training. “When you look at some of the rural fire noleum,” shared Mallott.
“You would attend weekend classes,” departments, they’re running with an- “It burns hotter and faster and so fires
stated Mallott. “You would educate and tique trucks,” said Mallot. “You’re putting today are a lot different than they were
mentor other firefighters on how to basi- the firefighter’s life on the end of that line pre-1980.”
cally fight a fire and be safe.” going into rescue you if you’re trapped in Mallott is proud of his career as Ken-
Mallott shared that new techniques there on an antique track.” nett Fire Chief and the strides he assist-
were coming out regularly. Mallott continued, “Another thing that
See MALLOT page 6

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