West Plains Fire & Rescue

10/21/2026

Last night, emergency responders from across the region came together at the The Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds for a multi-agency emergency response training exercise.

The exercise gave first responders an opportunity to practice their skills, strengthen communication and work alongside neighboring agencies in a realistic emergency scenario.

When a real emergency happens, there is no time to exchange introductions or figure out how to work together. That's why exercises like this are so important. They allow our first responders to build relationships, identify challenges and improve coordination before those skills are needed in a real-life situation.

The City of West Plains would like to thank the following agencies and organizations for their participation and commitment to keeping our community safe:

• Air Evac Lifeteam
• South Howell County Ambulance
• Howell County Rural Fire Department
• Howell County Sheriff's Department
• Howell County Coroner's Office
• Howell County Emergency Management
• Ozarks Healthcare
• West Plains Police Department
• West Plains Fire & Rescue
• West Plains Transportation Department
• Willow Springs Police Department
• Hughes Towing

A special thank you to the students from South Howell County Ambulance's EMT and Paramedic Education classes who served as actors to help make the exercise as realistic as possible.

We hope these skills are never needed, but when the unexpected happens, we want our emergency responders to be ready.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this valuable training opportunity possible!

10/20/2026

The City of West Plains Fire Department, Police Department and Transportation Department will join Air Evac Lifeteam and other local public safety agencies for a multi-agency training exercise tonight at 6 p.m. at the West Plains Fairgrounds.

Residents may notice an increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel in the area. Please remember this is only a training exercise and there is no cause for alarm.

We ask the public to avoid the fairgrounds area during the exercise to allow participating crews to train safely and without interruption.

We appreciate your cooperation as our local emergency responders work together to better prepare for real-world emergencies.

PUBLIC NOTICE: AIR EVAC LIFETEAM TRAINING EXERCISE

Air Evac Lifeteam will be conducting a multi-agency training exercise tonight at 6:00 PM at the West Plains Fairgrounds in coordination with local public safety agencies.

This exercise is designed to strengthen teamwork, coordination, and emergency response capabilities across our community so we can better serve the people of the Ozarks when seconds count.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! Please share this post to help keep our community informed. You may notice increased emergency services activity at the fairgrounds during the exercise. Please do not be alarmed, and we ask that everyone respect the training area and allow participating personnel to do their jobs safely.

Want to meet your Air Evac Lifeteam 1 crew? We love connecting with our community! If you’re interested in visiting the base, please reach out to us to schedule a time to stop by.

Thank you to our local public safety partners for working alongside us and to our community for your continued support!

10/11/2026

🚒🏆 WPFR BRINGS HOME THE HARDWARE! 🏆🚒

Our firefighters showed up, put their skills to the test, and brought home some impressive finishes! We’re proud to recognize our crew for their teamwork, determination, precision, strength, and competitive spirit during this year’s firefighter competitions! 💪🔥

🥇 1ST PLACE – EGG RACE! 🥚
Precision is everything! Competitors used electric spreaders to carefully move an egg from one cone to another without cracking it. It takes a steady hand, excellent tool control, and plenty of patience to get the job done!

🥈 2ND PLACE – REVERSE HOSE LAY! 🚒
Our firefighters put their skills, coordination, and teamwork to the test and delivered an outstanding performance!

🥈 2ND PLACE – FIREFIGHTER TUG OF WAR! 💪
Our crew went head-to-head against other fire departments, digging deep and showing what teamwork and determination look like!

🥉 3RD PLACE – FOUR-MAN ALARM! ⏱️
Speed and readiness were the name of the game! This event challenged four firefighters to gear up, climb aboard the apparatus, and buckle into their seats as quickly as possible. Every second counts when responding to an emergency!

🥉 3RD PLACE – TRUCK PULL! 🚒💪
Our firefighters put their strength and teamwork to the ultimate test by pulling a 1,000 gallon fire engine! This event took serious effort, coordination, and determination from the entire team!

🏆🔥 AND THE BIG ONE… THE TRAVELING TROPHY IS COMING HOME! 🔥🏆

Our Howell County firefighters took on law enforcement in the POLICE VS. FIRE TUG OF WAR and brought the traveling trophy back home to the fire departments! 🚒👨‍🚒👮

These competitions are about more than winning trophies. They’re about teamwork, camaraderie, friendly competition, and showcasing the dedication and skills our first responders bring to the job every day.

Help us congratulate our firefighters on an outstanding performance! We’re proud of our crew and the way they represented our department and community!

🥇 One first-place finish. 🥈 Two second-place finishes. 🥉 Two third-place finishes. 🏆 And the traveling trophy is back with the fire departments where it belongs!

FIRE vs. POLICE… WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME! 🚒🔥

10/02/2026

As of 9:30am 10/02/2026 The burn Ban has been lifted until further notice for Howell County Missouri, however it is still advised to be mindful when burning and remain with whatever you burn until it is out. Drought and Dry Conditions will continue next week and conditions will most likely make for high fire dangers again.

09/28/2026

‼️‼️ATTENTION‼️‼️
This includes the City Of West Plains.

Burn Ban is still in effect for Howell County, with increased winds forecasted especially for Wednesday Sept. 30 fire danger will increase. Please pass the word and observe the Burn Ban.

09/28/2026

Attached are a few videos from the training of the previous post.

09/28/2026

Saturday, September 26th Members of the Region G All Hazards Response Team along with West Plains Police Department completed training at Udall. Members focused on boat operations and how to safely rescue someone from the water. This training is a repeat of the last one due to having different members attending this training. WPFR acquired a new piece of equipment that is going to improve our capabilities to better serve the community in more ways than just water rescues. Further information on the newly acquired equipment will come in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Attached will be photos/videos of the training.

09/11/2026

🚨 RAIN DOES NOT MEAN THE BURN BAN IS OVER 🚨

West Plains and surrounding areas received some much-needed rain, but the amount of rainfall we received is not enough to eliminate the fire danger.

🌧️ Howell County remains under a COUNTY-WIDE BURN BAN.

We know a little rain can make things look and feel safer, but vegetation, leaves, brush, and other fuels can remain extremely dry beneath the surface. A brief rainfall does not immediately return these fuels to normal moisture levels. One unattended fire, hot ember, or spark can quickly become a wildfire.

🔥 While the burn ban remains in effect:
• Do NOT conduct outdoor burning of brush, leaves, trash, fields, fence rows, or other debris.
• Do NOT build or maintain open fires or campfires.
• Use extreme caution with ci******es and other smoking materials.
• Never discard cigarette butts onto the ground or from a vehicle.
• Be especially careful with anything that can produce sparks or heat.

🚫 Please do not assume that because it rained, the burn ban has been lifted.

The burn ban remains in effect until it is officially lifted by Howell County officials.

If you see a fire that is spreading, threatening property, or is otherwise an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Our goal is simple: prevent a small fire from becoming a large fire.

👨‍🚒 West Plains Fire & Rescue
Stay safe. Stay fire-aware. Help us protect our community.

09/11/2026

09/08/2026

🔥 EXTREME HEAT: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE, SAVE A LIFE! 🔥

As temperatures rise, it is important to recognize the warning signs of heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion can quickly progress into life-threatening heat stroke if not addressed.

☀️ Signs of Heat Exhaustion:
• Dizziness
• Thirst
• Heavy sweating
• Nausea
• Weakness

➡️ Take action: Move to a cooler area, loosen clothing, sip cool water, and seek medical attention if symptoms do not improve.

🚨 Signs of Heat Stroke:
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Becoming unconscious

Heat stroke is a medical emergency—CALL 911 immediately! While waiting for help, move the person to a cooler area, loosen or remove excess clothing, and begin cooling them with water or ice.

👶👵 Those most vulnerable to extreme heat include pregnant individuals, newborns, children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses.

Remember:
🚗 Never leave anyone alone in a parked vehicle.
💧 Drink plenty of water—even if you don’t feel thirsty.
❄️ Stay in air-conditioned areas when possible.
👕 Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.

Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Stay Informed. Your safety matters! ☀️🔥