District 1 Fire & Rescue reviews impact of Winter Storm Uri




NANNETTE KILBEY-SMITH Assistant Treasurer Gary Ullmann (right) reviews a report March 11, as Wilson County Emergency Services District 1 Secretary Jim Burdette and Vice President Quinten Kiolbassa follow the discussion regarding budgeting.

Winter Storm Uri, that blanketed Texas with snow and brought power outages, traffic issues, and water woes across Texas, also impacted the ability of emergency services to respond.

Wilson County Emergency Services District 1 (ESD 1), which provides fire-protection and first-responder services to the La Vernia, Kicaster, and Sutherland Springs areas, is budgeting for extra costs incurred during the mid-February winter storm. Due to District 1 Fire & Rescue personnel being isolated at their residences by the snow and ice, and an increase in calls due to the weather, personnel worked additional overtime. This exceeds February’s budget for personnel, Chief Chris Thompson told the ESD 1 board March 11, but some of the costs are reimbursable, he advised.

District 1 Fire & Rescue responded to a record number of calls in February — 104 in all — including five structure fires in five days, “The most I’ve ever seen,” Thompson said.

The storm also prompted another discussion.

The snow prompted Wilson County commissioners to allow the county burn ban, enacted last November, to expire. Immediately, area residents and developers began burning brush and other material.

“Some developers start fires and go off and leave them when clearing lots,” Thompson told board members. “State law says no unattended fires are allowed. Period. And fires must be out by dark.”

NANNETTE KILBEY-SMITH
Wilson County Emergency Services District 1 (ESD 1) board President Mike Trainer (right) and accountant Tom Dupnick confer on budget matters March 11.

Leaving a fire unattended can be prosecuted as a Class C misdemeanor. County Attorney Tom Caldwell has said he will prosecute such cases, Thompson said. Sheriff Jim Stewart also has indicated his deputies will issue citations in such cases.

Also addressed were district growth and the need for department management to work more closely with each other, which prompted the board to approve remodeling at Station 1 on U.S. 87 to create additional office space. The remodel, along with a safe, were approved at a cost not to exceed $13,000.

Board members also:
•Approved to contract with a photographer for official department and board photos, at a cost of $800
•Discussed setting a strategic planning meeting in April, and planning the district’s budget meetings
•Discussed possibly establishing official emails for board members through the fire department’s website; costs will be explored and the matter revisited at a future meeting.