July 09, 2009 –
MAYETTA: Mike Mills is the new Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Services for the Potawatomi Tribal Fire Department. He began his duties on June 29 and is in charge of a staff of approximately 18 firefighters/emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics who work in the department.
Mills is from Topeka and worked for the Topeka/Tecumseh Fire Department for 23 years. Prior to that he was the assistant fire chief for the Mission Township Fire District region for five years and is originally from the Dover/Wabaunsee area. In addition, his experience also includes being a field instructor in the University of Kansas Fire Search Training Program for several years and completing courses through the National Fire Academy.
Chief Mills said that he wants to maintain the services that the Fire Department presently offers and to work toward creating as high a quality of service as possible. He said that he was impressed with the first-rate equipment and facilities that are at the fire station and that they are superior to what many larger city fire departments offer.
The Potawatomi Tribal Fire Department provides fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical care on the common land and surrounding areas as requested. It also provides ambulance services and conducts community service in the areas of public education, first-aid and CPR training, and fire safety inspections. EMTs also provide daily blood pressure checks at the Firekeepers Elder Center when the meal site is open.
The fire department is located at 15468 K Road, Mayetta, Kan.