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Fire chief urges caution after rounds of training, recommends city consider burn ban amid extreme drought
Summary
Alpine Fire Department reported low call volume but intensive training and new equipment; the chief warned the area is exceptionally dry and suggested the council consider a citywide burn ban to reduce wildfire risk.
The Alpine Fire Department reported to the council on training, new equipment and wildfire preparedness on March 18. The department said February call volume was low but that crews used the time for substantial training, including SCBA drills, wildland firefighter certification and hazardous-materials training.
The fire chief (name not specified in the meeting transcript) said crews completed SCBA training with newly acquired packs, sent additional personnel to a modular academy to certify more wildland firefighters, and practiced ethanol‑fire response with training provided by Union Pacific. "We went to modify academy in Fort Davis, and we got 6 more individuals certified for wildland fires," the chief said. The department now has eight certified wildland firefighters and is available to assist neighboring jurisdictions if called.
The chief cautioned that local conditions are extremely dry and urged caution about outdoor burning. "We are the driest we have been," the chief told the council, citing drought-monitor data and strong winds. The chief said the county burn ban does not automatically apply inside city limits and recommended the council consider implementing a citywide burn ban or other restrictions to reduce the risk of accidental fires spreading.
The council and staff discussed hydrant testing and repairs; the chief said crews are testing hydrants in key areas and will coordinate repair needs with public works. The department also reported progress on a new computer records system to support incident reporting and grant applications.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; councilmembers asked staff to return with options for a city burn ban and details on enforcement and public notification.
