With the ongoing drought, excessive heat warnings and extreme wildfire danger, area fire departments are being stretched thin.
Dublin Volunteer Fire Department is asking residents to donate Gatorade, water and snacks to help first responders.
Donations may be dropped off at Stone’s Auto at 303 East Blackjack from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
While bottled water is needed, Gatorade and snacks are important resources to firefighters who are burning a large quantity of calories due to the heat and firefighting. Any high calorie, individual snacks that can sit in a vehicle and not melt are recommended such as nuts and crackers.
On Sunday, July 17, an “all call” went out to every fire department in Erath County after a large grass fire started near Morgan Mill.
According to Erath County Emergency Management Coordinator Cyndi Smith, there were crews from all departments in Erath County, Lipan VFD and Santo VFD along with Texas A&M Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service, engines, dozers, air attack and strike teams.
Dublin VFD kept watch overnight from Sunday into Monday, July 18 to make sure the fire, named the Wilson Canyon Fire, did not escape containment lines and extinguished hot spots.
A nearby resident was able to provide breakfast to the crews that were working on the fire.
As Monday afternoon rolled around, high temps, low humidity and wind provided the perfect environment for wildfires to start.
According to information provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service, 17 new requests for assistance on wildfires were asked for across the state on Monday including the Chalk Mountain Fire in Somervell County and the 1148 Fire in Palo Pinto County near Possum Kingdom Lake.
Many area departments responded to help with the Chalk Mountain Fire which caused evacuations Monday night into Tuesday morning. Somervell County Expo Center is being used for livestock evacuations.
The 4,000-acre fire was only at 10% containment as of Tuesday morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The 1148 fire (Palo Pinto County) was 500 acres as of Tuesday morning and also only 10% contained.
As of Tuesday morning, the Wilson Canyon Fire (Erath County) was estimated at 115 acres and 100% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Dublin VFD has remained close to home in case fires start closer to this side of Erath County with many resources already being utilized elsewhere.
“People in our area are really doing what we are asking of them,” Dublin VFD Fire Chief Paul Warner said. “We had no fires over July 4 th weekend and that is unheard of.”
All area departments are seeking donations, especially financial ones to help fund fuel and the maintenance of fire department vehicles. For those wanting to donate monetarily to Dublin VFD, checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 12, Dublin, TX, 76446.
Ways to be prepared •Recognize warnings and alerts. Have several ways to receive alerts. If in Erath County, follow Erath County Emergency Management’s Facebook page. Consider installing the FEMA app on your phone. Pay attention to air quality alerts.
• Make an emergency plan. Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands what to do if you need to evacuate quickly. Don’t forget a plan for the office, kids daycare and anywhere you frequent.
• Review important documents. Make sure your insurance and personal documents, like ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure passwordprotected digital space. Take photos of each room and upload them to a safe location for insurance purposes.
Strengthen your home. Use fire-resistant materials when renovating or building. Attach a hose to a water source that can reach any area of your property. Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home.
• Know your evacuation zone. You may have to evacuate quickly due to a wildfire. Learn your evacuation routes, practice with household, pets and identify where you will go. Follow the instructions from local authorities. Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so.
• Gather supplies. Have enough supplies, including a first aid kit, in your go bag or car trunk. If available, store an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation. Keep your cell phone charged when wildfires could be in the area.