Greetings Theodore Dawes Fire District,
Welcome to Summer 2025 and another Hurricane Season. That’s right, it’s that time of year again and your Theodore Dawes Fire Rescue department wants you to be prepared. Hurricane season started June 1st and will run to the end of November. Thanks to modern times we are
fortunate to have technology that gives us ample warning of a storm and its probable course. We ask all the citizens of our District to have a plan and plan to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours after a storm hits. You can rest assured that your fire department will be available as soon as it is safe for our personnel to be out. In your plan, all family members need to know if you are evacuating or staying put. You should have stored water on hand in bottles of filled up bath tubs. You should have food to get through the first stages of the storm’s recovery period. Keep some extra batteries for small electronic devices. Make sure your automobiles are filled with gas as well as generator fuel prior to a storm’s arrival. Speaking of generators, make sure they are used properly. Meaning, keep them outside in well-ventilated areas and away from combustible materials. It’s a sad fact that every year someone loses their life, not because of the storm but because of the carbon monoxide in the generator exhaust. Another problematic area for emergency responders is after the storm. Stay away from downed power lines, even we never know when they may still be charged, and use great caution when cleaning up, especially when using powered equipment. Chainsaws are a major cause of nasty injuries in the aftermath of a storm clean up. We ask that you all be weather aware and keep up with the forecast if and when we must deal with a hurricane in the Gulf. We want nothing but safe outcomes for all the citizens in our fire district and surrounding areas, so we ask you again, have a plan, be prepared, be patient, and most importantly be safe.
Another issue that is less urgent but no less important is open burning. I received a letter from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) back in April that pointed out a few things about open burning in Alabama. Everyone needs to be aware that all Mobile County is currently under the ADEM burn ban from May 1st to October 31st . No outdoor burning is allowed during this time. The letter goes into detail about why, but the short answer is Mobile County is an area of the state with poor air quality. The letter goes on about “fine particulate matter or PM 2.5”, and it creates serious health problems for people of all ages in out communities. It further states that open burning accounts for 60% of this particulate matter and therefore puts Mobile County along with Baldwin and 11 other counties under this total burn ban. There are a few exceptions, such as non-commercial cooking fires, fires to control disease or pest, fires for training fire personnel, prescribed fire for land management, and open burning specifically approved by ADEM, are just a few examples. ADEM can and will fine people for burning during this time and I have been advised that live fire does not have to be present, the evidence of a recent fire is all that must be present. It is also my understanding that an ADEM fine can be quite substantial to one’s pocketbook. Another thing of note is that fires can be reported anonymously by neighbors. So, be respectful of your neighbors and either wait to burn or haul it off. Your fire department as well as your wallet will thank you. More information can be found on the ADEM website, adem.alabama.gov.
In other news, it is your fire department’s intention to have an open house and dedication for our new Station 4, located at 9231 Three Notch Rd, on Saturday June 7 th . Once this station is fully operational your fire department hopes to provide better service and quicker responses to those of you in the western areas of our fire district. Please be safe and thank you for allowing us to be your emergency services provider.
Best Regards,
Chief Byrd