Copperas Cove, area fire departments respond to 31 fire calls during last two weeks of August

By BUDD JOHNSON 

Cove Leader-Press 

The Fire Danger Outlook assessment has not changed, even as some folks have received rain. The County Burn Ban is still in place along with 207 other counties in Texas.  Fuel Dryness is still in the Extremely Dry level. On a scale of 0 – 100, the area is still in the Greater than 97th Percentile for Fire Danger climate and the Precipitation Outlook is well below normal. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor is in the Exceptional Drought Intensity, the highest level. The Texas A&M Forest service still maintains that the Fire Potential forecast is still in the Moderately Significant range. Lake levels are dropping resulting in water conservation steps in place, and the low lake and pond levels further hampers firefighting capabilities.

During the last two weeks of August, Coryell County Fire Departments made 31 responses for grassfires/wildland fire calls from August 16 – 29, 2023. 

Copperas Cove Fire Department responded to several calls within the city, such as to Bradford Circle, where a grassfire was ignited by a discarded cigarette on Aug. 19. Then on Aug. 21, the CCFD responded to a grass fire on RGIII Blvd. CCFD and other departments also rendered mutual aid to a wildfire off Nolan Trail in Harker Heights on Saturday.

The full list of calls included:

8/16 – Gatesville Fire Department (GFD), responded to several brush piles and grassfire started by a resident on Mountain Rd.

8/16 – GFD, Evant, Levita, assisted Lampasas fire departments with TFS, TFS Air, & TIFMAS Strike Team for a 150-acre wildfire in Lampasas County on CR 3900 west of FM 1690 in Coryell County.

8/17 – GFD, Evant, Levita responded to 4 separate roadside grassfires on W US 84. 

8/19 - GFD, Levita, & Jonesboro extinguished a ½ acre grassfire on FM 2412.

8/19 – GFD and all available county departments, Cove, TFS, TFS Air, TIFMAS Strike Team and Hot Shot Crews worked the 138-acre Rocky J. wildfire that started along the roadside of FM 116. TFS, Hot Shot crews, a Black Hawk using a Bambi Bucket and fire departments were out several times in the following eight days. Numerous calls for re-ignitions were handled and calls for smoke that was determined to be blowing ash.

8/19 – Copperas Cove Fire Dept. made a quick stop on a grassfire on Bradford Cr. (caused by a discarded cigarette)

8/20 – GFD, Levita, & Evant roadside and pasture grassfire on CR 127.

8/20 - Coryell City/Osage VFD assisted Crawford with a major grass fire on Morgan Rd.

8/20 – GFD to a downed power line started a ¼ ac grass fire on Ransom Rd near TDCJ.

8/21 – GFD grassfire in a bar ditch from a blown P/U truck tire.

8/21/ - Copperas Cove responded to a grass fire on Robert Griffin III Blvd.

8/21 – GFD, Oglesby, Flat & Moody ¾ acre grassfire on FM 107, a hay bale succumbed.

8/22 – GFD, powerline sparked a ¼ ac grassfire on Old Sage RD.

8/22 – State School Rd major grassfire with evacuations started by a tractor hitting a rock. Numerous FD’s responded. Rekindles were reported for another two days.

8/22 – Copperas Cove responded back out to the Rocky J wildfire.

8/26 – Oglesby responded to an unauthorized burn on CR 311, citation written.

8/26 – Copperas Cove responded to a grassfire on Dove Ln.

8/26 – Copperas Cove responded for Mutual Aid to a major wildfire off Nolan Trail in Harker Heights.

8/27 – Jonesboro VFD assisted Hamilton with an unauthorized burn on CR 435.

8/27 – Copperas Cove responded to a grassfire on s 11th St.

8/29 – GFD, Jonesboro, Turnersville, & Hamilton responded to N TX-36 multiple roadside grassfires caused by a truck that blew out two right rear tires on his trailer.

September is National Preparedness Month, and the website ready.gov/be-informed has a wealth of information on disaster preparations. There is information on how to Make A Plan, Build a Kit, Disaster and Emergencies, Plan Ahead, Older Adults, Kids, Sheltering and more. 

Recently, some Coryell County residents experienced having to immediately evacuate due to wildfires. Theree are some preparations residents can make if they need to evacuate at a moment’s notice. First, a thumb drive containing with current health, financial, and personal information. Keep it in a secure place of course, but easily available. Make a copy to keep at work or to give to a family member. A printed copy can also be helpful.

Stay aware. Any wildfire, severe weather, or a local disaster may require evacuations. An evacuation bag, also called a “bug out bag” should include medications, a change of clothes, hygiene items, and possibly food/snacks & water, and especially the Survival Flash Drive. Www.ready.gov/kit has “Build A Kit” suggestions.