ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final story recapping the debriefing of the recent fires in the area last week with the Seward County Commission. This story will discuss the recent controversy concerning Commission Chairman Steve Helm asking former Fire Chief Andrew Barkley to give Administrator April Warden a radio as well as drills the county  does to help prepare for emergencies.

As last week’s debriefing on the mid-February fires came to a close, some last issues were discussed, including the opening of shelters for those evacuated and a controversial video of a phone call between Seward County Commission Chair Steve Helm and former Fire Chief Andrew Barkley.

Seward County Health Department Director Brie Greeson said the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, in the past, has done a great job helping with shelters in the past, and she had recently talked to LACF Director Sarah Mersdorf-Foreman about what to do in situations such as the fires.