Last Updated
 Tuesday, November 07, 2006 07:19:01 PM

 

 NEWS ARCHIVE

    This page contains every article every news article ever posted on the site.

 

August 29, 2006 - 9:00 PM
Local VFW Post Donates GPS Units to Fire District
    VFW Post 7287 Commander Barry McCoy attended the Pafford AirOne ground control training class recently held at Central Fire Station.  There he learned that the helicopter could respond to an accident scene much faster if given the exact coordinates of the location by first responders who are already on-scene.  He also learned that the Red River Parish Fire District did not have any GPS equipment for its rescue units.  District Chief Berl Lawson told him that the Fire District just did not have the funds to purchase them.  Commander McCoy went to the VFW membership at their next meeting and received approval to purchase two of the GPS units for the Fire District rescue units.  These units were presented after a special meeting of the Fire District on August 13, 2006.  The Fire District would like to thank the VFW Post 7287 for its generous donation.

 

 

August 20, 2006 - 8:00 AM
Early Morning Fatal Crash Involving Train
    Early Sunday morning around 3:34 hrs, District personnel received notification of  a one vehicle crash involving a train on Highway 1 approximately a half mile south of Harmon. The driver of the vehicle was deceased upon arrival of emergency responders. Firefighters extricated the driver and assisted Pafford Ambulance service. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the name of the driver has not been released. 

  
Photos courtesy of www.paffordairone.com 

August 19, 2006 - 2:00 PM
Pafford Ambulance Service Introduces AIR ONE
    On Tuesday, August 8, Pafford Ambulance Service brought its newest addition to its fleet, PAFFORD AIR ONE, to Coushatta. Pafford hosted a ground school at Central Station in Coushatta, and numerous local emergency responders were present. The new helicopter will be extremely useful in transporting seriously injured patients to larger hospitals such as LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. Life Air Rescue, based in Shreveport, has been serving Red River Parish for the past several years. Pafford Air One will serve the parish as a backup service whenever Life Air Rescue is unable to fly. All emergency agencies in Red River Parish are pleased to have Pafford Air One in operation and look forward to working with the crew. For more detailed information on Pafford Air One, please visit their new site www.paffordairone.com .

  

July 28, 2006 - 7:00 PM
Firefighters Suffer Heat Exhaustion at 
Structure Fire

    On Friday morning around 11:30, the Fire District was notified of a structure fire at 1306 Highway 155. Firefighters had responded to the same residence on Thursday (July 27) for a structure fire involving a shed near the house. Upon arrival, personnel found the actual residence fully engulfed with flames. Firefighters from Coushatta, Martin, Hickory Grove, Crossroads and Hall Summit responded to the fire. Due to the intense heat and humidity, several firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and were treated by Pafford Ambulance Service. One firefighter was transported to CHRISTUS Coushatta Hospital.  Because so many of Red River's firefighters were being treated for heat exhaustion, mutual aid was requested of Bienville Parish Wards 4/5 and 6 for additional manpower.  

    The fire was finally brought under control around 2:45 PM. All firefighters are currently listed in good condition and recovering from the heat. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office. The District has responded to this same residence for a structure fire numerous times within the last 18 months. All personnel and apparatus cleared the scene around 4:30 PM. Anyone with any information concerning this incident is urged to call the Red River Parish Fire District.

    The Fire District would like to thank the Coushatta Police Department and the firefighters from Bienville Parish for their assistance.

 

 

 

  

July 15, 2006 - 4:00 PM
Annual Water Shuttle Successful 
    On Saturday July 15 at 7:45, apparatus and personnel from all over the District met at the Red River Livestock Barn in Armistead for the annual parish water shuttle. The water shuttle is designed to regulate the amount of water the District can pump in a designated time frame. Each year the District tries to maintain the rate of 850 gallons per minute, and this was accomplished. This year the District reached a maximum rate of 1100 gallons per minute which was impressive for our parish. All of these numbers may not seem important, but when the parish fire insurance rating is determined - they are VERY important. The cost of fire protection insurance is strongly affected by these water shuttles. Without the hard work of the volunteers throughout the District, insurance ratings would be much higher than they are today. CLICK HERE for more pics.

July 11, 2006 - 11:00 PM
Arson Suspected in Early Morning Vehicle Fire 

    On July 11 around 3:36 hrs, the Red River Parish Sheriff's Department notified the District of a vehicle fire on LA 480 approximately two miles south of Coushatta. Upon arrival, firefighters found the vehicle fully engulfed with flames spreading throughout the entire vehicle. The flames were quickly extinguished and an investigation followed. The occupant of the vehicle was not at the scene and failed to show up while firefighters worked the incident. Due to the severity of the fire, no vehicle identification numbers were available. Captain Daniel Simpson conducted an investigation of the scene and reported all findings to the Sheriff's Department. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Due to the circumstances of this fire, arson is believed to be a factor. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Red River Parish Sheriff's Department @ (318) 932-4221. 

   
Life Air Rescue landed on the Riverfront Road near Ed Lester Produce.

July 9, 2006 - 3:00 PM
Local Man Seriously Injured in Accident
    On Sunday July 9 around 11:45 hrs, District EMT's and personnel assisted Pafford EMS and the Red River Parish Sheriff's Office with an accident just off of the Riverfront Road. A pickup truck ran over an individual working near the vehicle. Life Air Rescue was notified and landed on the Riverfront Road near Ed Lester Produce. The patient was transported to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. CLICK HERE for more pics.

July 2, 2006 - 6:30 PM
Structure Fire Destroys Mobile Home

    On Sunday July 2 around 15:12 hrs, firefighters were notified of a structure fire on LA 784 near the Hickory Grove Community. The residence was fully engulfed with flames upon arrival. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and saved some of the vehicle located near the structure. The owner of the residence, Virgil Smith Jr, was not home at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The structure was a complete loss.  

 

July 1, 2006 - 9:00 AM
Fatal Crash on Highway 71
   On Friday June 30 around 16:54 hrs, District personnel responded to a one vehicle crash on Highway 71 South near the old Longino store. Initial reports indicated the driver was trapped in the vehicle. Upon arrival, EMS responders and firefighters found a small car in the ditch. The car suffered heavy damage due to a collision with a tree. The driver of the vehicle was deceased upon arrival of emergency responders. Firefighters extricated the driver and were on standby for a gas leak. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the name of the driver has not been released. 

 

May 23, 2006 - 10:45 PM
Firefighters Standby for Haz-Mat Events

    Fire District personnel were on standby during the removal of hazardous materials from two closed schools in Red River Parish.  Vandals recently broke into the Hall Summit High School and tampered with the chemicals that were left in the science lab.  The school was closed in 2001, and the chemicals were never removed.  Some of these chemicals dated back to the 1930s and 1940s.  This prompted the Hall Summit Chief of Police to contact state authorities to arrange for the removal of the dangerous chemicals.  The science lab at Martin High School, which closed last year, also contained many chemicals.  Fire Chief Berl Lawson and Assistant Chief Scotty Warren, along with Bienville Parish Wards 4/5 Fire Chief Bobby Conly, were on standby with fire trucks at each school during the removal.   Thankfully, the removal process went smoothly and without any problems. 

KSLA News 12 Coverage of Hazardous Materials Removal

 

May 18, 2006 - 10:00 PM
Vehicle Flips on Highway 155

  
         Life Air Rescue Landed at Christus Coushatta Hospital to transport both the driver and passenger
                                                        involved in the MVA on Highway 155.

    District personnel responded to a one vehicle crash around 18:22 hrs. on Highway 155 near the Elementary School. The pickup truck overturned and landed in a ditch. The passenger of the vehicle was ejected, but the driver remained in the vehicle. District EMT's assisted Pafford ambulance service with medical treatment while other firefighters assisted with traffic control and scene safety. Both the driver and passenger sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.

May 13, 2006 - 11:00 PM
New Apparatus Photos

   
    The District's newest apparatus - BRUSH 1 - is now in service and operational. Several additional accessories will be added to the truck including warning lights, siren, front bumper, wench, etc. The truck will be a huge asset to the District and citizens of Red River Parish.
                                                          CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS    

May 6, 2006 - 10:00 AM
BBQ Fundraiser Successful
 
    The membership of Station 1 would like to thank ALL the people who contributed to the success of their BBQ fundraiser. After covering all expenses, the station raised a little over $1,000. This money will go towards the purchase of emergency lighting and equipment for their brand new Ford F-350 brush truck. Again, thanks to everyone for their help and support of the Fire District!

May 5, 2006 - 12:00 AM
 Photos of Former Fire Trucks Added

    We are pleased to announce the addition of a photo gallery containing pictures of old fire trucks owned by the Town of Coushatta, Village of Hall Summit, and the Fire District.  These not only bring back fond memories for many, but they also serve as a reminder of just how far we have come since the Fire District was created in 1987.  We hope you enjoy them, and more will be added soon.

Old Fire Trucks  

 

April 20, 2006 - 9:00 PM

    

VFW Honors Local Firefighter & EMT

    The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7287, honored two members of the Fire District Thursday night during its annual awards ceremony.  Shane Felts, Chief of Station 1, received the Firefighter-of-the-Year award.  Barbara Nichols, a registered EMT-B and long-time member of the Fire District, received the EMS Person-of-the-Year award. 

        A special memorial plaque was presented to Buddy and Lawana Fowler, parents of the late Station 1 Chief H. M. Fowler, III.  The VFW also recognized a local educator and a law enforcement officer during the ceremony. 

 

April 10, 2006 - 5:00 PM
 

  

Fire District Receives Donation of Rescue Truck

    The Red River Parishwide Fire Protection District is the proud recipient of a "new" heavy rescue truck.  The 1986 Chevrolet is the newest addition to the Fire District's fleet, thanks to DeSoto Parish Fire District 8.  After purchasing a new rescue truck, DeSoto FD 8 decided to donate it to Red River Parish.  The truck was originally donated to them by the Shreveport Fire Department. 

        In addition to the large number of compartments and storage areas on the walk-in style body, the truck is equipped with two hydraulically-operated light towers, each with 6 - 500W halogen lights.  It is also equipped with an onboard 12kW Onan diesel-powered generator.  The Fire District is very grateful to DeSoto Parish Fire District 8 for their generous donation. 

 

April 5, 2006 - 1:00 AM
District Releases 1st Quarter Statistics for 2006

    The District has been extremely busy the 1st quarter of 2006. Personnel and apparatus responded to 81 alarms from January 1 - March 31. The majority of the alarms were related to grass/woods fires. This outbreak of fires is linked to the extreme dry conditions during the first part of the year. The District has also implemented a new plan of action in which fire apparatus are dispatched to all major motor vehicle crashes. This allows First Responders/EMT's to assist the ambulance service with medical treatment, while other personnel assist law enforcement officers with traffic and scene control. Also, having District personnel and apparatus on the scene allows for quick access to extrication or fire suppression equipment. The District would like the community to see the amount of time and work they contribute to the citizens of Red River Parish. If anyone has other suggestions about how the District can improve its procedures, please EMAIL us. Click HERE for more statistics.

Structure Fires 5
Grass/Woods Fires 36
Vehicle Fires 4
Motor Vehicle Accidents 14
Hazmat/Gas Leak 2
Fire Alarm 12
Smoke in Building 4
Special Detail/Other 4


April 4, 2006 - 3:00 PM
Aerobatics Plane Crashes in the District  

    Around 10 AM, District personnel were notified of a plane crash on I-Hope farm along Highway 1 near the Natchitoches parish line. The plane had been experiencing technical problems due to a broken control stick. The pilot safely parachuted from the plane and was uninjured. The plane was completely destroyed, but no fire suppression was needed by the fire district. For more information on the story, please visit www.ktbs.com .

 

      

March 30, 2006 - 12:15 PM
Fire District Participates in Career Day   

     Red River Elementary School held its annual Career Day on March 30, 2006.  Representatives from the parish's emergency response agencies were in attendance to show-off their equipment and give information to students about their respective careers.  Even though Red River Parish firefighters are not "career firefighters" and are not paid, they were asked to provide details about a firefighter's job and the tools he uses.  In attendance were Chief Berl Lawson, Assistant Chiefs Scotty Warren and Dan Cotton, Anna Cotton, Marcie LeDoux, Angelia McCoy, and Wanda Calhoun.  Click here for more photos of Career Day.

February 20, 2006 - 11:45 PM
Fire District to Purchase New Engine  

 

                from left to right:  Chief Berl Lawson, Assistant Chief Dan Cotton, Nolan LeBlanc (Bonaventure Fire Apparatus),

                Board Chairman Robert E. May, Assistant Chief Scotty Warren

    At their meeting on Monday, February 20, 2006, the Board of Commissioners voted to accept Rosenbauer's (Central States) bid to build a new fire engine to be placed at Central Fire Station.  The truck, which will be the first actual new vehicle to be put in service at Central Fire Station since 1987, is scheduled to be delivered in November, 2006.  Some of the features of this truck include a 2-door Sterling chassis, Waterous 1500 GPM pump (top mount controls), 1250 gallon water tank, Ladder-Thru-The-Tank storage, preconnected crosslays (to accommodate 400 ft. of hose) in extended front bumper, and LED lighting package. 

March 11, 2006 - 1:00 PM
Bulldogs Earn 2006 State Runners-Up 

  Red River Parish was relatively quiet on Friday, March 10, as hundreds of citizens traveled down to the Lafayette Cajundome to observe the 2006 2-A State Championship game. The Red River High Bulldogs faced Madison in a very tough game, but came up short in double overtime 86-81. The Fire District would like to congratulate the Bulldogs on an outstanding season and wish them luck next year!

March 8, 2006 - 10:00 PM                     
Red River High Bulldogs Earn Spot in State  Championship Game 

    The Fire District would like to congratulate the Red River High Bulldogs on their win over Donaldsonville in the 2006 LHSAA State Basketball Semifinals. The Bulldogs defeated Donaldsonville 73-60 and earned their spot in the State Championship Game which will be held on Friday, March 10 at 7:00PM. The game will be played in the Cajundome which is located in Lafayette. Click HERE for more details about the tournament. Good Luck Bulldogs!!    

February 27, 2006 - 11:00 AM
Fire District Helps Out Historical Locomotive

  

    On Friday February 24 around 8:45 PM, the Spirit of Louisiana pulled into the old train depot on Front Street in Coushatta. The historical steam engine was running low on water, and the Fire District was called to pump 3,000 gallons of water into the engine. Numerous firefighters from around the District were given the opportunity to climb aboard and tour the locomotive. The train's journey originated in New Orleans and was complete in Kansas City - an 800 mile trip. It is scheduled to return to New Orleans in a few months. For more information about the "Spirit of Louisiana", please visit www.lasta.org . The District was pleased to be a part of this historical experience. CLICK HERE for more photos.

February 10, 2006 - 11:30 PM
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident on Hwy. 1  

      

    At 4:23 PM on February 10, 2006, firefighters were summoned to a motor vehicle accident involving one vehicle on LA Highway 1 near the Caddo Parish line.  Initial reports indicated that there was one person trapped in the vehicle.  As law enforcement officers and firefighters arrived on the scene, they found a truck overturned in the ditch, which was filled with water.  The occupant was deceased upon the arrival of emergency responders.  The cause of the accident is unknown at this time.

February 10, 2006 - 9:30 PM
Two Firefighters Slated to Receive Awards  

    Two firefighters from the Red River Parishwide Fire Protection District have been selected by the Board of Commissioners as recipients of the annual Firefighter-of-the-Year (FOTY) and EMS Person-of-the-Year awards given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Shane Felts, Chief of Station 1, will be awarded Firefighter-of-the-Year.  Barbara Nichols, member of Station 4, will be awarded EMS Person-of-the-Year.  The VFW will host a banquet in the near future to honor these dedicated individuals.  The date and time of the banquet will be announced. 

February 8, 2006 - 8:30 PM
Minutes from District Board Meetings Added  

    We are pleased to announce the addition of an archive containing the official minutes from previous meetings of the Board of Commissioners. Additional meeting minutes will be added as soon as they become available.  This archive can be accessed through the Board of Commissioners page or by clicking this link:  Official Minutes

February 4, 2006 - 11:00 AM
Central Fire & Rescue Has New Site

    Central Fire & Rescue in Coushatta now has its own website up and running. Firefighter James Giddings and Chief Shane Felts have been working extremely hard to organize the site. The address is http://centralfire.freewebpage.org/. Please be sure to check the site for new pictures and information concerning Central Fire & Rescue. The District is pleased to be getting its image out on the world wide web!

 

February 3, 2006 - 10:00 AM
Firefighters Respond to Crash on 155

  

    On Thursday, February 2 around 4:20 PM, Coushatta and Martin firefighters were notified of a one vehicle crash on Highway 155 near the Old St. Mary Church Road. No extrication was needed, but firefighters/first responders assisted Pafford Ambulance Service and helped with traffic control. The District also responded to a second crash around 6:50 PM on Highway 480 just south of the Hanna curve. No extrication was required for this crash. 

 

January 15, 2006 - 4:00 PM
Two Crashes Call for Firefighters

   

    On Friday, January 13 at 11:30 PM Coushatta firefighters responded to a call for an overturned vehicle on Parish Road 161-B. Firefighters were informed there was a possibility the driver was trapped inside. Captain Daniel Simpson (Station 1) was first on scene with Engine/Rescue 31 finding that the driver was not in the vehicle and had fled the scene. A thorough investigation was conducted and the scene was declared safe.
    The next morning (Saturday, January 14) at around 10:58 AM, firefighters were called for a two vehicle crash on Highway 71 near Gray's Scrap Metal Road. No extrication was needed, but District EMT's and First Responders assisted Pafford Ambulance service with treatment of the two injured patients. Firefighters remained on scene until the wrecker service arrived. Hopefully, the number of crashes in the parish will slow down for a while!
 

January 11, 2006 - 10:30 PM
District Responds to Four-Vehicle Accident

   

    Red River Parish firemen began their day by responding to a motor vehicle accident involving three 18-wheelers and one SUV on Highway 1, just south of Highway 177.  The fire district was paged around 6:30 AM.  Fire units from Coushatta, Hickory Grove, and Martin responded to the accident.  One fireman, who was on his way to work, reported that one of the 18-wheelers was on fire. 

    State Police officials say that the driver of the SUV, heading south on Highway 1, was attempting to pass an 18 wheeler.  Police say somehow the SUV driver lost control, and the vehicle came to a stop in the road.  It was then hit by an 18-wheeler heading north.  That set in motion a chain of events that brought two more 18-wheelers into the wreck.   Three of the four drivers sustained serious injuries.  The accident caused Highway 1 to be closed for nearly 11 hours.

*KSLA News 12 contributed to this article.

January 2, 2005 - 11:00PM
District Responds to 7 Alarms - Over 50 Acres Burn

    The District started off 2006 with a bang by responding to a record of 7 alarms in a single day. The first alarm came in around 10:00 AM for a vehicle fire at Almond Brother's Lumber Company. Shortly after (11:20 AM) the second alarm came in for a large grass fire in Hanna off of Highway 1. Sparks from a welding machine ignited the large pasture. The third alarm came in around 2:20 PM. A large grass fire in Armistead was ignited by several uncontrolled brush pile fires. Due to the high winds, the fire quickly spread across the field. At the same time, a fourth alarm was sounded for another large grass fire on the Mt. Olive/Red Oak Road. The cause of this fire is unknown. With the help of the forestry department, firefighters were able to gain control of the fires. Just when everything was under control, firefighters spotted another grass fire about a mile north of Armistead, and a fifth alarm went out. After a brief investigation of the scene, it was determined the fire also originated from an uncontrolled brush pile fire. The forestry department was again summoned to the location to assist in extinguishment. As personnel began clearing the scene, a sixth alarm sounded for yet another grass fire in the Hall Summit community. The fire was quickly brought under control and the cause of ignition was unknown. The seventh and final alarm sounded at 6:02 PM for a small grass fire across from the Hall Summit School. The fire was extinguished by 6:08 PM. The District hopes all citizens will realize how easily small fires can become uncontrollable. Everyone is strongly encouraged to abide by the burn ban, and failure to do so will result in a significant fine.  

 

December 31, 2005 - 5:00PM
District Helps Out Local Industry/Practices Shuttling Water

         

  

    Saturday, December 31, 2005, District personnel assisted Hood Industry in adding over 50,000 gallons of water to a pond on their property. The pond is used as a source of water in case of a fire emergency at the mill. This drill gave firefighters an opportunity to practice operating equipment and shuttling water. Firefighters Berl Lawson, James Hester, Daniel Simpson, Bob May, Shane Felts, Barry McCoy, Dan Cotton, and Brandon Foster participated in the shuttle along with Engine 31, Engine 51, Tanker 1, Tanker 3, and Tanker 4. Overall, the shuttle was a success.

Happy 81st Birthday, Mr. May!!!

     

The Fire District would like to wish Mr. Robert E. May a happy 81st birthday (December 28).  Mr. May has volunteered with the Red River Parishwide Fire Protection District since its creation.  Throughout the years he has served as Chief of Station 3, District Chief, Commissioner, and Chairman of the Board.  We sincerely thank him for his years of tireless dedication to the citizens of Red River Parish and wish him many more to come!

 

 December 26, 2005 - 10:00 PM
Dry Conditions & Wind Cause
Breakout of Grass & Structure Fires

 

 
     Monday, December 26 was an active day for firefighters throughout the District. There were a total of four grass fires and one structure fire. The first alarm (10:34 AM) was a structure fire in the Westdale Community. An abandoned house was ignited when embers from a nearby brush pile were blown into the attic of the structure. While firefighters were finishing up with the call, a second alarm came in for a grass fire in the Social Springs Community around 11:15 AM. An hour later (12:15 PM), a third alarm came in for another grass fire in the Martin Community. As everything started to calm down, a fourth alarm came around 1:40 PM for a grass fire on the Red Oak Road about four miles south of Coushatta. Just when firefighters thought this was the last fire, a fifth alarm came in for a grass fire on John Cotton Road off of Highway 371. Needless to say, December 26, 2005 was one of the busiest days the District has encountered!  

      

December 21, 2005 - 9:00PM
Local Citizen Donates 1/4 Acre Lot to District

    At the regular board meeting held on Tuesday, December 20, 2005, Mr. Bill Bacle donated a 1/4 acre of land to the District. The lot is located on Parish Road 105 just off of Highway 71 South. The lot was donated in hopes of a future station being constructed in that area of the parish. Mr. Bacle was present at the meeting to officially sign off on the donation. The District would like to express its gratitude to Mr. Bacle for his generous donation and support of the Fire District. As of now, there are no plans for a new station, but hopefully a ninth station can be added in the near future. 

 

December 16, 2005 - 8:00PM                 
Current Activity Blotter Added

    We are pleased to announce the addition of an Activity Blotter to redriverfire.com.  This page contains information about all calls we have responded to since December 1, 2005.  Please check back often, as the blotter will be frequently updated with our latest response information.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ACTIVITY BLOTTER

December 15, 2005 - 8:00PM
Structure Fire on Parish Road 202

    At 5:15 PM on Thursday, December 15, the Sheriff's Office notified the District of a structure fire at the Jeremy Lowe residence on Parish Road 202. Units responded from Coushatta, Hall Summit, Crossroads, Hickory Grove, and Martin. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a large fire in the attic. The fire was contained to the attic and was quickly extinguished. District Chief Berl Lawson stated, "It was one of the best saves that I have ever seen." Unfortunately, several hours later (around 2:35AM) the fire had rekindled. Units responded again to find that the entire house was fully engulfed. The home was then declared a total loss. Units also responded two additional times to the residence to extinguish several hot spots.

December 11, 2005 - 1:00AM
Springville Community Structure Fire

    Around 10:05 PM on Saturday, December 10, 2005, the fire department was notified of a structure fire at 2103 Washington Street in the Springville Community. First reports indicated there were several occupants trapped inside the residence, but these early reports proved to be false. Fire trucks and personnel from Coushatta, Hall Summit, Crossroads, Hickory Grove, and Martin responded. According to District Chief Berl Lawson, the residence was a total loss, but thankfully there were no injuries.
 

December 9, 2005 - 9:00PM
New Online Survey Added to Site  

    Thank you for visiting our new site. We are constantly trying to improve the site and would love to hear any of your suggestions or comments. If you could please take a few minutes to complete our Site Survey, we would be very appreciative. Thanks again for visiting our site and check back soon for updates.


December 1, 2005 - 6:00PM
LIVE CHAT & Online FORUM Added
    Redriverfire.com now has enhanced features including "LIVE CHAT" and an online forum. These features have been added to help enhance the communication process in the District. To access either of these features, simply click on the links located on the right side of the homepage (below the Email Us link). Live Chat requires you to enter your own unique username and begin chatting. The online forum requires a quick and easy registration. This allows you to create a unique username and gives you the ability to post new topics or respond to any existing topic. Hopefully these features will enhance your experience on www.redriverfire.com. Please use the features in a professional manner. All topics will be closely monitored. Enjoy!!
 

November 26, 2005 - 10:00PM
Much Needed Rain Causes "Slippery"
Conditions on Highway 1

    The rain we have been waiting on for the past several weeks finally arrived on Saturday. Although the rain was welcomed by many, several drivers faced extremely slippery road conditions. Around two in the afternoon on Saturday, the District received notification of a vehicle overturned on highway one. Firefighters Jack Parker and Daniel Simpson of Central Fire & Rescue responded in Engine/Rescue 31. Upon arrival they determined the driver was out of the vehicle and only needed minor medical treatment. Later in the afternoon, another call came in of a vehicle crash about four miles south of Armistead on Highway 1. Shane Felts, Jack Parker, and James Giddings responded in Engine/Rescue 31. Upon arrival they determined the driver was not injured, and the vehicle only had minor damage after flipping two times. Slippery road conditions are believed to be the cause of both of these crashes.
    There is something positive about the heavy rains received throughout the District - the Burn Ban has been lifted. All residents of the District are once again allowed to burn on their property, but are strongly encouraged to do so with caution. Small fires can easily get out of control and cause serious damage to property. Residents are encouraged to use common sense and don't hesitate to call the District if the fire is out of control.
 

November 25, 2005 - 2:30AM
Early Morning Gas Leak Prompts Fire Department to Close Highway 480

    Around 1:00 AM on November 25, the District received notification of a gas leak on Highway 480 (Red Oak Road). Firefighters Daniel Simpson and Berl Lawson responded to Central Station and were on standby. Sheriff's deputies arrived on scene and confirmed the odor. Under recommendation of District Chief Berl Lawson, the road was closed to all traffic for safety precautions. Both Engine 1 and Rescue 3 were used to completely block the highway. The road was reopened around 2:30 AM after Atmos Energy officials declared the area safe.
 

ENGINE 8 - OUT OF SERVICE

    

        Engine 8 (Harmon) was involved in a rollover while responding to a grass fire at the Armistead Gin. Robert Yarbrough of Station 6 (Jordan Ferry) lost control of the engine, rolling it over. Thankfully, Yarbrough was not injured in the accident, but the engine was declared a complete loss. Plans are already underway to complete a spec sheet on a new truck for the District.