LONGTIME SCOTT CITY FIRE CHIEF AT JACKSON

JACKSON -- Les Crump has seen firefighting change from the days of putting out blazes with a short hose to cleaning up hazardous wastes and chemical spills.

After 37 years as fire chief for Scott City, Crump has taken a post as assistant fire chief at Jackson. He began work there Monday.

Crump said it was hard to leave Scott City but he is ready to face some new challenges.

"I'm driven by challenges," he said. And Jackson poses many challenges for him.

Growth is an issue not just for city planners but for the fire department. In his new role, Crump will be inspecting commercial buildings to make sure they meet safety codes. He also will help with training in the department.

Jackson Fire Chief Brad Golden said the city had been looking for an assistant chief for nearly a year. Crump's background with emergency medical training and his years of experience made him a suitable candidate, he said.

For nearly half his career in Scott City, Crump served as fire chief on a part-time basis. During his last 15 years did he was a full-time chief.

Moving the department through changes like that and adding equipment took time, he said.

"People have their own impressions of a volunteer fire department when the only thing they see is the fire truck going down the road," Crump said. "But for every minute they see, there are hundreds of things that are done every day to make sure the equipment is ready for the job."

Over the years Crump made sure that Scott City's equipment was the best.

"We've moved from the days of breaking glass and putting out a fire by squirting a hose to a well-trained department," he said.

Part of the changes involved adding an emergency medical service for residents. Scott City was one of the first cities in Southeast Missouri to start an EMS service. Jackson started accepting EMS calls almost two years ago.