With the change of the seasons often comes outside clean up.
This includes the process of clearing brush, burning leaves, clearing fields and taking care of older buildings. When you have a brush pile or any other amount of rubbish that is in the planning to be burned, we ask that you call the 911 dispatch and let us know.
When you call to advise of a controlled burn, the dispatcher will ask for information including your name, your address or location of the fire, your phone number, what will you be burning, how large the burn will be (for brush fires or fields) and if the fire has been started yet. This information will remain in dispatch and will be relayed to the correct fire department. When 911 and the fire departments know that you are having a controlled burn, it helps save resources by not sending the fire personnel out when they’re not needed.
By having information about your controlled burn, we know that when someone drives by and sees the old barn or shed burning that it is OK and fire department is not needed. If there is a report or concern about fire in area, dispatch can call and confirm with you that it is or is not still under control, or hasn’t rekindled without you knowing.
If a burn is planned for multiple days, call dispatch each day or time it is started. If for any reason you call in a controlled burn and it is not able to happen, call dispatch back and advise it will not be burning.
No matter how large or small your controlled burn will be, please call and let dispatch know. The phone numbers for dispatch are 417-967-5996 or 417-967-5997, or you can always just dial 911.
Once you have called in a controlled burn, the fire department is only a call away if it becomes out of control (just dial 911).
Texas County has a vast amount of volunteer firefighters who are often at a fire for endless hours helping their communities. Not only do they fight fire, they also help and respond to a wide variety of calls. Any time they can save resources, it helps that department on the next hurdle they face.
This is also the time of year to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Your local fire department may be able to help you with checking them. And don’t forget to clean those chimneys and pipes before the first fire of the season.
We would like to add an extra big “thank you” to all the area firefighters and first responders for all their hard work and dedication.
The Texas County Emergency Services office in Houston is funded by a 3/8-cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2013. Director Susan Hale and assistant director Terra Culley can be reached by phone at 417-967-5309 or by email at texascounty911@hotmail.com.
