Coleman Fire & Rescue

Well its getting dry again! A fire watch has been issued for today by the weather service. 

Ok now that winter has blown in, we would like to update everyone. We will also try to update through the day.

 We have reports that Hwy 84 is becoming treacherous as the morning has worn on. The hill by the Santa Anna Rest Stop has become icy and vehicles are having trouble making it up the hill. We have also had problems with Hwy 153 at the hill hear in town becoming icy. A tractor trailer was completely blocking traffic but has been moved.

So far we have only been out to one minor accident, but many city streets are completely covered in ice.

Please stay indoors and home if possible!

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Central Texas and includes Coleman Co.

Temperatures are expected to be pleasant during the day today but fall rapidly tonight to lows in the twenties and remain there for at least a couple of days.

Ahead of the cold temperatures tonight, there is a chance for evening thunderstorms and rain. As the temperatures fall, moisture will turn to sleet and ice.

For our county responders:

Please be careful if you must respond to a call tonight.

Be aware that driving conditions may require a slower response due to icy conditions. Do not be in such a rush to get to the call that you become another call.

Throw an extra set of dry clothes in your gear bag in case you get wet...

If you have to be onscene for an extended time be aware of hypothermia... Try to rotate personnel to a warm in side truck.

Keep pumps running and recirculating water in tanks to avoid freezing lines and tanks if you have to fill your tanks, work valves and nozzles also.

General Winter Safety

    Be aware of the wind chill. Review this wind chill chart or print it out.

    Drink plenty of warm fluids or warm water but avoid caffeine and alcohol. Stay active to maintain body heat.

    Take frequent breaks from the cold. Try to have a nearby shelter or warm vehicle to take breaks in when possible.

    Avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body to the cold. Always wear a hat and gloves and appropriate shoes or boots with several layers of clothing. Scarves or other face coverings help as well.

    * Get out of the cold immediately if the signals of hypothermia or frostbite appear. Frostbite is the freezing of a specific body part such as fingers, toes, the nose or earlobes.

Signs of Hypothermia and What to Do About It

For more information visit: NOAA Winter Storms

On
Dec. 21, 2010, Governor Rick Perry signed a proclamation declaring many
counties in Texas, including Coleman County, “are currently threatened by an
extreme fire hazard due to disaster. Lack of precipitation has dried grass and
other vegetation across the state, posing significant fire danger which is
expected to continue.”

The
proclamation also states that under Section 418.014 of the Government Code,
Governor Perry is declaring a state of disaster due to the wildfire threat.

That
declaration provides assistance to local responders in various forms. Agencies
will have access to emergency funding and be eligible for  reimbursement
by the state and possibly federal government for any wildfire related
responses.

Governor
Perry’s declaration also brings many state resources to assist local agencies
should they be needed. These agencies include the Texas Department of Public
Safety, Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Forestry Service, and
many others that can lend equipment and man power to aid responders.

The
aim of the declaration is to ease the burden on local governments and fire
departments in dealing with potentially explosive fire conditions, while also
making the public take heed of the current severe conditions.

Coleman
County Judge Hobbs is expected to also issue a proclamation declaring a state
of disaster exists for Coleman County with the next few days. Declaring a
disaster on the county level allows the the Governor’s declaration to apply to
Coleman County and making local departments eligible for state and possibly
federal assistance.

The
Governor’s Proclamation is two pages long and can be found at the following
link: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/documents/disasterWildfireThreat.pdf

After a long anticipated wait, the new and improved Brush 1 is in service!

This truck is a 2001 International Harvester Cab and Chassis with a custom
flat bed. We had the front bumper and cage built by Lambert Wielding and the
entire truck painted by Terry Hyden.

A skid unit was purchased from Steele Fire Apparatus through a Texas
Forestry Service grant. The skid features a 750 gallon polytank, 18 hp pump, 2
1″ whip lines, a 100′ 1″ red line on an electric reel, hose trays for 1 1/2″
and 2″ lines and discharges for each, a 10 gal internal foam tank, and custom
piping.

This new unit will replace two older brush trucks which had limited
capability and had become unreliable mechanically. Brush 1 will also be a much
safer truck and more efficient.

The CFD responded to an automatic mutual aid call for a structure fire in
Santa Anna.

Dispatch toned out for a structure fire on Ave A in Santa Anna at about 2:15
PM. Coleman Engine 2 responded with a crew, and while enroute were turned
canceled by Santa Anna Units on scene.

Welcome to the news page for the Coleman Fire Department. Look here for the
latest info and happenings!