In 2019 BVFD responded to 11 wildland fires in Powder River County. Out of the 11 fires only 125 acres burned in total. Four of the fires were started by farm equipment, hot bearings or iron sparking a rock. Between the landowners, neighbors and Broadus Fire these fires only burned about 14 acres total along with some haying equipment. A strong wind blew down a power line that started our largest fire of the year and it burned about 100 acres.
There were a few lightning strikes in the trees but with all the moisture they barely made it out into the grass; the largest burning about an acre and the rest smaller than that. We were requested by BLM to assist on a few fires in the trees. One of them they already had under control so we didn’t have to trek up the hill or in my opinion a mountain, and the other one we did trek up on top, helped get a line around the fire, and then lightning struck in the black (already burned area) of a 6 acre fire. I don’t know why but it didn’t take very long to get back down to our truck and come home. Some of our department spent some time searching for smoke reports. Although we didn’t find any it is better to be safe than sorry.
Lightning struck two separate hay stacks, burning up about 800 round bales in total and a burning tractor helped burn up another 15 bales.
We had two incidents that burned up the cabs of semis, one of them pulling a tanker full of a hazardous material. Everything turned out alright but we didn’t really know how it was going to end. We responded to 5 fires involving cars or pickups, two of them burning completely up but we were able to get the other three out without incurring too much damage. One motorcycle verses a pickup crash occurred. Apparently, it wasn’t the fella on the motorcycle’s day to die because he came out of it with only a few scratches. We were requested to help extricate folks involved in car crashes twice and helped out the ambulance crews in both Powder River and Carter County.
With a quick response we were able to catch a fire in a shop before it got out of control as well as helping with traffic on a few incidents in both Powder River and Carter County. One doesn’t realize how much traffic there is on our highways until you get them stopped for an hour or two.
We assisted in a mock crash at the high school, with the message being to be responsible and pay attention while driving and the consequences of what can happen if you don’t. In October we taught fire safety to K thru 6th grade during fire safety week. We went over having at least two routes to get out of your house in case it is on fire and for them to discuss with their parents or guardians where to meet up after they get outside. Also reviewed was how important it is to check the batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year, along with other pertinent information.
We have had a slow start in 2020, responding to only one call so far this year. I would like to remind everyone to be fire safe this winter with your heaters and wood stoves, and keep a charged fire extinguisher close by. If you are going to do any outside burning please notify the Sheriff’s dispatch at 436-2333 so we don’t respond to your prescribed burn. If things do get out of hand don’t hesitate to give us a call.
I would like to thank the residents of Powder River County for their continued support of our department, the BLM and DNRC for their personal and equipment. I would also like to thank the Sheriff’s office, Dispatchers and the dedicated EMT’s on Jesse Ambulance; it is a pleasure to work with all of you.
Raymond Ragsdale
Broadus Vol. Fire Dept.
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