October is Fire Prevention Month.
This is a great time to do and go over a few things in everyone’s home. Such things as changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. One of the most important tasks is to establish or practice your family plan if a fire of any kind would to happen. Your plan should always include address, location and phone number information. This far in 2025, dispatch has had over 330 separate fire events. In 2024 there were over four hundred.
Today in dispatch Francine and Eileshia are nearing the end of their shift they have a few seconds of down time and were discussing how they should carve their pumpkin for the contest coming up.
As the phone rings…
Francine: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
Caller: “The chicken coop! It is on fire the light probably did it.”
Francine: “Do you know the address to where the chicken coop is?”
Caller: “Yes, it is by the house, and we just practiced our address.”
Francine was able to talk to the caller, Jake, who was eight years old. An address was obtained along with his phone number. Eileshia dispatched the fire department, with this being a structure fire, a second fire department was automatically sent also for this area.
Francine: “Jake the fire department is on the way. Is everyone safely away from the fire?
Jake: “Yes, well my mom went in to try and get the chickens, she told us to stay on the porch.
Francine: “Can you see your mom?
Jake: “No, but the coop is over there by the trees, and the truck is in the way, do you want me to go check on her?
Francine: “No, stay on the porch, who is there with you?”
Since there was an unknown situation of possibly injuries or someone in the fire Eileshia also dispatched an ambulance.
Jake: “My sister, Emmy she is only four, she isn’t big like me.”
Francine: “Is there anyone else around or there near the fire?”
Jake: “No, dad went to town, he told mom not to mess with that light yet. So, I bet it was the light that burned. Mom said the babies would need to have the light to keep warm.”
Francine: “Jake, I want you to tell me as soon as you see your mom, don’t go down there just tell me when you see her. You are doing great talking to me and watching your little sister.”
Jake: “OK, we learned it in the family plan, but now we have to change our plan.”
Francine: “Why do you have to change the plan?”
Jake: “Cause if the house was on fire we gotta meet at the chicken coop, but now the chicken coop is on fire. Hey! There is mom. She only has three chickens.”
Francine: “Is she there with you? Jake?”
Jake’s mom: “Hello?”
Francine: “Hello, this in 9-1-1 emergency. We have the fire department and an ambulance on the way. Are you OK?”
Jake’s mom: “Oh, thank you. Yes, I think I am ok, I just have some burns on my hands, but not too bad. The coop is still burning but the flames are not as high as they were.”
Francine walked Jake’s mom through what to do for her burns while also talking with her to confirm the address and the extent of the fire. The fire was starting to spread to the field. Eileshia updated all responding units on the patient and the fire.
Francine: “Jake done a great job talking to me and providing information, he had talked about a family plan.”
Jake’s mom: “Yes, we have a family plan and recently went over it, to be honest I wasn’t sure either one of the kids were going to remember it, but thankfully they listen to more than I realized. The fire department is here.”
Francine: “OK, I will release the call and let you talk with them.”
Jake’s mom: “Thank you.”
There are thirteen separate departments with coverage area inside the largest county. With this being fire prevention month, it is important to appreciate that all the departments in Texas County are dedicated volunteers. When someone calls in to report a fire, the departments are dispatched as soon as a location is obtained. The firefighters may have to respond from their home or work before going to the fire house to get the fire trucks. Their responses are not delayed by a dispatcher asking questions about the situation. Those questions are geared toward helping the fire department prepare for the scene they will be arriving at.
Along with fighting fires and a multitude of other calls they respond to, the departments also provide fire education for their communities. All fire departments in the area are always looking for and welcoming additional volunteers. There are endless tasks that can be accomplished. There are support and auxiliary roles within each department. I encourage you to talk with your local fire department to see if there is something you can help with.
Will you be having a controlled burn? If so, no matter what the size call dispatch at 417-967-5997 to let them know, just before starting it. They will ask a few questions and make a note about the fire. By doing this it helps save valuable resources. If it is known that a fire is a controlled burn the fire department will not be sent unless asked for by the one having the controlled burn.
The Texas County Emergency Services office in Houston is funded by a 3/8-cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2013. Director Terra Culley can be reached by phone at 417-967-5309 or by email at terraculley911@hotmail.com.