Mineral Wells Area News

PALO PINTO COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1

Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District 1 Fire/EMS Winter Weather Preparedness Update

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED January 8, 12:00 PM:

As Texas anticipates its first significant winter weather event of the year beginning early January 9, Palo Pinto County has been designated an area of “High Uncertainty” regarding precipitation types. While it remains unclear whether we will experience freezing rain, snow, or a combination of both, hazardous road conditions and cooler temperatures are highly likely starting Thursday morning.
To address these challenges, Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District 1 (ESD1) has coordinated with Sacred Cross, Palo Pinto County’s Emergency Management Office and Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office to develop an Inclement Weather Action Plan, this plan will go into effective January 8 at 6:00 PM.

Inclement Weather Action Plan

Deployment of Resources

• Additional Duty Chiefs: Two Duty Chiefs will be stationed in the northern and southern parts of the county to provide operational support or assume Incident Command at high-tier emergency scenes.
• Apparatus Staging:Emergency vehicles and resources will be pre-positioned in areas identified as potentially high-risk areas, ensuring rapid response capabilities during emergencies.

Coordination with Sacred Cross EMS (SC):

• Response Protocol: In areas where Sacred Cross EMS encounters difficult or hazardous access, ESD1 will dispatch a Fire Apparatus equipped with winching capabilities and 4X4 to ensure rapid patient contact and transport.

Mutual Aid and Additional Resources

• Mineral Wells: Increased staffing to support emergency response.
• Encore Resources:Resources will be staged at Dempsey starting Thursday evening.
• Texas Forest Service:Deployment of two saw crews and a brush truck with winching capabilities from their Mineral Wells office, available as required.

This proactive action plan underscores the commitment of Palo Pinto County ESD1 Fire/EMS to the safety and well-being of our community. We stand ready to meet the challenges posed by this winter weather event, ensuring a swift and effective response to emergencies countywide.

Stay safe and monitor local updates for further information.

Danny Watkins
Fire Chief
Palo Pinto County ESD 1
55 S. FM 2353
Graford, Texas 76449