Broken Bow fire chief reports 119 calls in 2025, cites new online burn-permit and temporary limits on controlled burns

Broken Bow Fire Chief Dustin Watson told the City Council on March 10 that the department responded to 119 calls in 2025, including 13 carbon monoxide incidents, 31 grass or bale fires and 13 structure fires.

Watson, delivering the department’s annual activity update, provided a detailed breakdown: 17 false alarms, 19 vehicle accidents, 1 elevator entrapment, 3 gas meter calls and 4 vehicle fires, among other miscellaneous responses. He said the statistics reflect the range of calls the department handled last year.

The chief said the department has moved to an online burn-permit application. "The new online permit is receiving a lot of positive feedback as it can now be approved within minutes," Watson said. He explained that the change replaces a prior paper-permit process that required residents to visit the station.

Because of continued dry and windy conditions, Watson said the department is temporarily limiting approved controlled burns to no more than four during each seven- to ten-day period and is not issuing permits for brush or tree piles until conditions improve. He reminded residents that "no open burning can take place in the City as it is prohibited by City Ordinance."

The online permit is available at www.cityofbrokenbow.org, Watson said. The chief did not provide a timeline for when full permitting would resume; he tied future changes to weather and fuel-moisture conditions.

The council did not take action on the department report; the presentation was delivered for council and public information.