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August 21, 2023 - Center Fire Department responded to a structure fire on CR 3148 Monday, August 21, 2023, at 9:30am.
When firefighters arrived, a mobile home was fully involved and was already down. The firefighters got to work at extinguishing the fire and the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department also arrived at the scene with additional fire personnel and water.
Once the house was extinguished, the fire departments returned to their stations at 11:20am.
The cause of the fire is suspected to have originated at an air conditioner window unit. When the resident woke up, the house was on fire and they were able to escape unharmed.
August 21, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a crash on Farm-to-Market Road 699, north of County Road 3717, that occurred on Friday, August 18, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:30am, a 1993 Peterbilt truck tractor driven by Richard Mills, 66, of Carthage was traveling south and stopped for a construction zone flagger. It is reported that a 2019 Dodge Ram driven by Bryan Orellana, 33, of Farmers Branch and towing a trailer, also traveling south, struck the rear of the Peterbilt.
Mills was transported to a local care facility by personal vehicle for treatment.
Orellana was not injured and was cited for failing to control his speed.
There is no further information available.
August 21, 2023 - Red Flag warning has been extended until 8pm Tuesday evening, August 22 for critical to extreme fire weather conditions near and south of the 1-20 corridor of East Texas, northern and central Louisiana. East wind continues 10 to 15 mph today and Tuesday. Relative humidity as low as 24% and temperatures up to 107 both today and Tuesday.
August 20, 2023 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana issued at 1:46pm Sunday, August 20, 2023 a Red Flag Warning which is in effect from 7am to 8pm Monday for critical to extreme fire weather conditions near and south of the I-20 corridor of Northeast Texas and Northern Louisiana near and south of the Interstate 20 Corridor.
- Winds are southeast to east near 10 to 15 mph with occasional higher gusts.
- Relative humidity is as low as 20 to 25 percent.
- Temperatures forecast from 103 to 107 degrees.
***Rapid ignition and spread of wildfires is possible due to persistent hot and dry conditions!***
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that extreme fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Avoid all outside burning and welding today. Do not toss lit cigarette butts outside. Report wild fires to the nearest fire department or law enforcement office.
Red Flag Warning areas in Texas and Louisiana are Caddo, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Caldwell, Lasalle, Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Rusk, Panola, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Angelina, and San Augustine.
August 21, 2023 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports that on Sunday, August 20, 2023, a large fire was reported in the Spann's Chapel area off of Highway 96 South. Numerous Fire Departments from Shelby County responded to the area, along with the Texas Forest Service, federal, state, and out of state Fire Departments assisting to battle the massive fire that covered 500 acres.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted with traffic control and evacuations of residents that were in high-risk locations, on County Roads 1015, 1021, 1022, and 1026.
This has been an active scene area for several hours with Fire Department personnel attempting to protect structures and contain the fire with the additional uses of aircraft.
With such, the Texas Forest Service advised that 50% of the affected area has been contained as of 9 p.m. last night.
As of 2:50 p.m., Monday Aug. 21, crews are still heavy on scene (on the ground and in air) working to keep the fire under control. The fire is contained at 75 percent and holding at 500 acres.
August 21, 2023 - The November 7, 2023 Constitutional Amendment Election is fast approaching. If you are registered to vote and would like to vote absentee, please call our office at 936-234-2147 to request an application for ballot by mail.
There are five reasons one can vote absentee, as follows:
1) 65 years of age or older
2) Disability (as defined in Texas Election Code 82.002a, instructions on back of application)
3) Expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
4) Expected absence from the county
5) Confined in jail or involuntary civil commitment
After you call and make your request, we will mail the application to you. Once you complete it, you can mail it back to us or drop it by the County Clerk’s office. NOTE: if you and your spouse both want an application, we have to speak with BOTH of you. You are not able to request an application for someone else.
Please do not hesitate to call us for any questions or concerns!
Nancy Adams
Shelby County Elections Administrator
Grass fire near the intersection of County Road 3267 and County Road 3193.
August 21, 2023 - Over the week of August 13th through August 19th, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had a variety of calls including medical, fire, and automotive accidents. Here’s a summary of a few of the more notable events.
Monday evening at 7:23pm a call was received to assist Tenaha VFD with a house collapse with a person potentially inside. Once on scene, it was discovered that the house had collapsed a few days prior to the call and did have someone inside at the time. Joaquin and Tenaha VFDs were able to lift debris off of the deceased collapse victim and recover their body for funeral home personnel.
Friday morning at 9:53am a call came in for a 2-vehicle crash on FM 699. Upon arriving on scene, units found that the driver of a Ram dually with a trailer had collided with the back of a dump truck. Both the Ram driver and the dump truck driver were unharmed in the crash. The Joaquin VFD provided traffic control until both vehicles could be removed from the roadway.
Friday afternoon at 1:03pm a page was received in regards to a rapidly moving grass fire near the intersection of County Road 3267 and County Road 3193. The Joaquin VFD responded with brush trucks and an engine for extra water. After about an hour the fire was extinguished and the scene was cleared.
With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.
August 21, 2023 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA at 4:50am Monday, August 21, 2023 extended the Excessive Heat Warning until 9am Tuesday.
Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to or exceeding 110 degrees are expected across portions of south central and southwest Arkansas; north central and northwest Louisiana; southeast Oklahoma; and east and northeast Texas until 9am CDT Tuesday.
August 20, 2023 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA issued at 11:10am Sunday, August 20, 2023 an Excessive Heat Warning until 9pm Monday.
Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 115 degrees are expected across some locations this weekend for portions of south central and southwest Arkansas; north central and northwest Louisiana; southeast Oklahoma; and east and northeast Texas.
Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
Provide ample shade and water for pets and outside animals: Any time your pet is outside, make sure they have protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don't obstruct air flow.
Pictured above is a home that was lost during the fire.
August 21, 2023 - As of 12-midnight, the fire is reported to be 75% contained.
August 20, 2023 - As of 9pm 50% of the area on fire is reported to be contained.
Fire personnel with the Texas Forest Service, assisted by state, federal, out of state and local fire departments are working to contain a 500-acre forest fire in Shelby County allegedly started by someone burning trash.
The staging area has been established at Spann’s Chapel Missionary Baptist church.
According to Sean Dugan with the Texas A&M Forest Service, the 500 acre fire is 1% contained as of 6:24pm, and there are multiple aircraft involved as well.
There are multiple evacuations in place for County Roads 1021, 1022, 1015 and 1026. Dugan states there were one male, two females and a child who were initially reported missing, but have since been located. They were transported by EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.
According to Dugan, one structure has been lost. Crews are continuing to provide structural protection and stop the fire.
The public is encouraged to continue to be careful and pay attention for any additional evacuations in the area.
County commissioners and public officials are also on scene assisting where they can, while Texas Department of Public Safety is also involved.
Several of the commissioners provided fuel to help the fire trucks re-fuel on site. Sandhill Foundation also provided tanker trucks of water to help the fire trucks refill.
Firefighters from several states also participated in fighting the 500-acre blaze. Firefighters with the Georgia Forestry Commission are pictured above.
August 19, 2023 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports that on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at approximately 10:20PM, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a structure that was on fire, being a residence located at 1673 FM 2140 in Center.
Center Fire and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched and responded along with Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies. It was discovered that there were two occupants within the residence at the time of the fire, in which both occupants perished in the fire. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Investigators responded to the scene and the State Fire Marshal’s Office was also requested to respond to assist in the investigation.
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Donna Hughes performed an inquest and an autopsy for the decedents were ordered. Both decedents were transported to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for an autopsy.
The decedents were identified as a Joe Hughes, 62, of Center, and a Kathleen Green, 71, of Center.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Related article:
August 19, 2023 - Center Fire Department responded to a trash fire on CR 3736 at 2:30pm on August 19, 2023.
The fire was called in by someone who saw the smoke from the loop and tracked down its origin before calling it in to fire personnel.
When firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire, the resident was not there, and the fire had traveled across the roadway to a neighboring property.
The firefighters were able to prevent spread of the fire to no more than one acre.
The Sheriff’s Department was seeking for the responsible party to issue a citation for violating the burn ban.
The fire department personnel returned to the station at around 4:30pm.
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