West Mountain VFD

11/03/2026

Good news friends. The burn ban has been lifted for the county. Please use care when burning. Remember, it’s NEVER legal to burn shingles, painted wood, tires, air conditioners, televisions and other appliances.

10/30/2026

10/30/2026

Folks, the burn ban has been extended until Nov 16th. Please continue NOT burning. Official notice will be out soon.

10/15/2026

RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for portions of East and Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and Northwest Louisiana.

WHEN: Friday, October 16, from 10:00 AM through Saturday, October 17, at 1:00 AM CDT.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Winds: North winds 10–25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph.
Low Humidity: Relative humidity dropping to 25–35%.
Dry Vegetation: Critically dry fuels will allow fires to ignite easily and spread rapidly.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

These conditions create a dangerous environment for wildfires. Even a small spark could quickly turn into a fast-moving fire, threatening homes, property, and lives.

PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS:

* Avoid ALL outdoor burning.
* Do not throw cigarette butts on the ground.
* Avoid activities that could produce sparks near dry grass or vegetation.
* Use caution when operating equipment and vehicles in grassy areas.
* Follow all local burn bans and fire restrictions.
* Report any signs of wildfire immediately by calling 911.

REMEMBER: A Red Flag Warning does NOT mean a wildfire is currently burning. It means weather conditions are favorable for fires to start and spread rapidly.

Our firefighters and emergency responders need YOUR help! Please do your part to prevent unnecessary fires and keep our communities safe.

ONE LESS SPARK, ONE LESS WILDFIRE!

Please SHARE this warning to help spread awareness and protect our communities!

Source: US National Weather Service Shreveport Louisiana

10/14/2026

FIRE WEATHER WATCH – UPSHUR COUNTY, TX

BURN BAN IN EFFECT | ELEVATED WILDFIRE DANGER

The National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana, has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Upshur County and surrounding areas of East Texas beginning Friday morning and continuing through late Friday night.

Friday, October 16, 2026
10:00 AM Friday – 1:00 AM Saturday (CDT)

EXPECTED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS:

Winds: North winds 10–20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph.

Relative Humidity: 25–45%.

Vegetation: Critically dry grasses, brush, and other fuels.

Fire Danger: Any fires that develop could spread rapidly and potentially become life-threatening.

UPSHUR COUNTY BURN BAN IN EFFECT!

With the recently implemented countywide burn ban and the potential for critical fire weather conditions, residents are urged to exercise extreme caution.

PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS:

✅ Follow all restrictions outlined in the Upshur County burn ban.

✅ Avoid outdoor burning and activities that could produce sparks.

✅ Use extreme caution when operating tractors, lawnmowers, welding equipment, and other machinery.

✅ Secure trailer safety chains to prevent sparks from dragging metal.

✅ Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass or vegetation.

✅ Properly dispose of ci******es and smoking materials.

✅ Report smoke or wildfires immediately by calling 911.

A MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY

These conditions create an increased risk for rapidly spreading wildfires, placing homes, businesses, livestock, property, and emergency responders in danger.

A Fire Weather Watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible, not guaranteed. The National Weather Service may upgrade this watch to a Red Flag Warning if conditions warrant.

Our local firefighters and emergency responders are prepared to serve, but wildfire prevention begins with each of us.

Please do your part to protect our community, our neighbors, and the firefighters who respond when emergencies occur.

STAY INFORMED:

🔗 National Weather Service Fire Weather Updates:
https://www.weather.gov/shv/fireweather

🔗 Official Fire Weather Watch:
https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=135149510

PLEASE SHARE THIS ALERT TO HELP KEEP UPSHUR COUNTY SAFE!

10/14/2026

BURN BAN NOW IN EFFECT – UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS

Effective today, October 14, 2026, the Upshur County Commissioners Court has issued a COUNTYWIDE BURN BAN for all unincorporated areas of Upshur County.

ALL OUTDOOR BURNING IS PROHIBITED unless specifically exempted under the order.

The burn ban will remain in effect until October 30, 2026, at 12:00 noon, unless lifted earlier or extended by the Commissioners Court.

Violations of this order are considered a Class C misdemeanor and may result in a fine of up to $500.

With dry conditions increasing the risk of wildfires, we ask everyone to use caution and do their part to protect our homes, property, firefighters, and community.

Please remember, our volunteer firefighters are your neighbors, friends, and family members. Help us keep everyone safe by following the burn ban!

Please share this post to help spread the word!

See the official order below for complete details and exemptions.

10/14/2026

Hey friends, The Burn Ban has been put back into place effective immediately. Please do not burn.

10/10/2026

ELEVATED FIRE DANGER TODAY – PLEASE USE CAUTION!

While we are NOT currently under a burn ban, that does NOT mean today is a good day to burn!

The National Weather Service has issued an Elevated Fire Danger alert for our area through 6 PM today, Saturday, October 10.

Winds: 10–20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph

Low Humidity: 20–35%

These conditions create an increased risk for wildfires. A small fire can quickly get out of control and spread before you know it.

We strongly discourage ALL outdoor burning today!

Please help protect our community, your neighbors, and our first responders by taking a few simple precautions:

Avoid burning brush, leaves, or debris.

Secure trailer chains and avoid parking in tall, dry grass.

Properly dispose of ci******es.

Remember, even a small fire can quickly become a dangerous situation under these conditions.

Just because it’s legal to burn doesn’t mean it’s safe to burn!

We ask everyone to use good judgment and hold off on outdoor burning until weather conditions improve.

Help us keep our community and firefighters safe!

10/09/2026

BURN BAN LIFTED DOES NOT MEAN FIRE DANGER IS GONE!

PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN BURNING!

While the burn ban has been lifted and we have received some much-needed rain, our area is STILL DRY, and fires can spread quickly!

Your West Mountain firefighters, along with firefighters from departments all across the county, have been extremely busy over the past couple of days responding to wildfires and working to protect lives, homes, and property.

We ask everyone to PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU BURN!

Avoid burning when winds are high or gusty.

Never leave a fire unattended, even for a few minutes.

Keep water and firefighting tools nearby.

Make sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving.

If conditions aren’t right, PLEASE wait for another day!

Just because burning is legal doesn’t always mean it’s safe.

Our volunteer firefighters are dedicated to serving and protecting our communities, but preventing a wildfire is always better than fighting one.

Please help us help you! A little extra caution can make a BIG difference.

Stay safe, stay alert, and help us keep our communities safe!

Your West Mountain Firefighters

10/05/2026

Hey friends. Upshur County has lifted the burn ban. Please be careful.