The Calloway County E-911 Communications Center is launching a new program to better assist our responders, community, and farmers in the event of needing an emergent response. This program will gather information, such as locations of their tobacco barns, number of barns on the property, and other information from local farmers to provide first responders with vital information prior to arrival.
Every year we receive multiple calls advising that a barn may be on fire from people who are unaware of the fire curing process. Many that aren’t from the area may not be aware that fire curing tobacco is a common practice in Western Kentucky. This process produces a light-colored, or white, smoke to be produced and expelled from a barn. Several barns throughout the county are close to roadways and able to be seen, resulting in many of the “false alarm” phone calls we often receive.
The 911 Communication Center is requesting that all farmers fill out a registration form that is located at the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, 701 Olive St., or by printing it off from the Calloway County website (callowaycountyky.gov and click “Forms”). Once filled out the form can either be sent to the e-mail listed on the bottom of the form or dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office.
The information that you will provide will be used to create a map that is designed to show where these tobacco barns are located along with all other information provided attached. This will be used when receiving a call to better identify who the barns belong to, surrounding structures, and better informing responders of the area to respond more efficiently. The information will also help both the Dispatch center and the Fire Department in making contact with the property owner in the notification process of any damages that have been caused due to a fire.
We would like to thank all that participate and hope to see a significant positive effect from this in all future Tobacco seasons. The center is always looking for ways to improve itself and the dispatchers that keep it running. We would like to thank the Community for their help in getting this program running and responders for their patience as we are beginning and working through any issues that may come forward in this process.
Related coverage: Just because there’s smoke, doesn’t mean it’s a fire
