McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson Fire Department (MFD) hosted the weekly Chamber Connection on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Fire Station 1, located at 312 East Kansas Avenue.
Fire Chief Chad Mayberry shared that the fire department has seven personnel on duty each day, split between Fire Station 1 and Station 2. Station 2 opened in April of 2025 and is located at 1705 N. Main.
Chief Mayberry estimates that the fire department will run about 2,000 calls this year, which is an increase from years prior, because they respond to all medical calls in the community along with McPherson EMS, and that comprises about 80 percent of their call volume now.
The MFD is an All Hazards Fire Department, which means they are available and prepared for every hazard including trench rescue, hazardous materials, confined space, building collapse, rope rescue, fire extinguishment, swift water and vehicle extraction.
McPherson Chamber Ambassador and Ad Astra Radio Sales Manager Casey Justus recently discovered what a Flashover is and asked Chief Mayberry to share more about it.
“Flashover is basically when all the combustible items in a room reach their ignition temperature at once and ignite,” Chief Mayberry explained. “And pretty much it’s a non-survivable event for anyone. Even firefighters in gear don’t survive flashovers.”
Chief Mayberry said they have done test fires in rooms with legacy construction and furnishings from the 1950s (all natural materials) and it took 30 minutes to reach flashover. In modern environments, where everything’s synthetic (with all the plastics), it took about three minutes and 41 seconds to reach flashover. You have less time to get out of a fire now than you did in the past according to Chief Mayberry.
At the beginning of the Chamber Connection, McPherson City Administrator Austin Regier introduced state legislators and candidates who were present. This included Kansas Senator Michael Fagg, Kansas State Representative Rick Wilborn, and two candidates running for state legislature: Lori Shultz and Bobby Joe Robertson.
“You’re in my thoughts and prayers. Things go on in this life today. It’s very tough,” Senator Fagg shared. “This is where we hang together and do the best we can to get through this, but I want you to know that you’re in my thoughts up here.”
Senator Fagg currently lives in El Dorado, and serves McPherson, Chase, Marion, Greenwood County, as well as the northern half of Butler.
“My job is to help you in what things that you would like to do and see,” Senator Fagg added. “So, as life goes on, just remember I’m a phone call away.”
Representative Wilborn echoed what Senator Fagg said, adding, “Our heart is with the families and the communities and everybody involved.” Representative Wilborn also shared that he thought Mayor Jim Loving’s message on social media, addressing the tragedy at Stryker Sports Complex, was very well done.
Representative Wilborn has served three terms in the Kansas Senate and two years in the Kansas House of Representatives.
“It’s been truly an honor,” Representative Wilborn said.
Lori Shultz and Bobby Joe Robertson, who were also present at the Chamber Connection Thursday morning, are running for the seat that will be opened up at the end of this year that Rep. Wilborn is currently holding.
For voting information, visit mcphersoncountyks.us
For more photos of the Fire Department’s Chamber Connection, see the McPherson Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
