Fire issues were a big part of the agenda of Brown County Commissioners’ Court meeting Monday, as commissioners once again did not issue a burn ban and were later briefed on the Central Texas Wildfire Academy which will take place this month at the Camp Bowie training facility in Brown County.

Commissioner Precinct 3 Joel Kelton told the court that he spoke with the May Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief and agreed that the county would be okay if the burn ban was not implemented.

Chief Chris Weber of the Lake Brownwood Dam Volunteer Fire Department gave a brief report to the court of the upcoming Central Texas Wildfire Academy, which will be held February 14-18 in Brownwood at Camp Bowie.  According to Weber, the academy is in its 12th year and has grown from a two day weekend training to a full five day event.  The training will include four classes in which firefighters from across the state can attain certificates of completion.

Classes offered include topics of fire safety, basic and intermediate firefighting, operations management, mission operations, and the use of fire as a tool (prevention and education).

On the last day of the training, February 18th, there will be a prescribed burn, where instructors will actually put fire on the ground and teach how to manage and extinguish a wildfire.  Two areas, 21 & 22 of Camp Bowie will be burned and possibly three more (3, 7, and 11) if the wind cooperates, said Weber.  Pictured above left is map of these areas, dated 2012.

All burns and courses will be under the direction of Texas Forest Service (TFS) and participants will receive National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certificates.  Weber stated that prescribed and test burns are performed with a scientific approach taking wind, weather, and terrain into consideration.

Weber stated that there is a similar academy in Bastrop each year which brings much needed funds into the local economy.

“There is a big fire academy each year in Bastrop which hosted 800 students last year and generated approximately $1 million in revenue into the local economy through hotel stays, meals and other purchases made by the students,” said Weber.  “Hopefully our school will develop into the same type of success.”

County Judge Ray West thanked Weber for the report and the work of volunteer firefighters.

“The work you guys do doesn’t cost tax payers directly but the work you do is indispensable, and we thank you for that,” said West.