By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Fire Department's average on-scene time for incident responses for 2025 is 10 minutes and 19 seconds.
Catherine's average response time was 14 minutes and 46 seconds, while Munjor's was four minutes and 43 seconds.
"10 minutes and 19 seconds may seem like a long time, especially when you're in need [during] an emergency, but our firefighters are not at the station. They're all paged for calls," Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers said.
Myers said the average response time reflects the initial page to arrival on scene across the county’s 900 square miles. He noted Catherine’s higher average is also influenced by the low number of calls they receive.
"Since I've been keeping statistics over the years, [the overall average] has actually gotten a little better," Myers said.
Ellis County Fire Department has responded to 63 incidents so far this year, with motor vehicle accidents and EMS assists each accounting for 14.3% of the total call volume.
Myers said that despite challenges, no calls have gone unanswered by volunteers in more than 10 years, with an average of 13 firefighters responding to each incident
"Most of the firefighters, like Ellis County in general, work in Hays. Sometimes it does take a little bit longer during the daytime hours... to get their stations, get dressed and get the truck rolling to the scene," he said.
Fire calls, burn ban
According to fire and emergency management reports, 32 acres have been burned in wildfires so far this year.
The Ellis County Fire Department announced a temporary burn ban on March 11 for all unincorporated county areas. The ban is still in effect.
SEE RELATED STORY: Burn ban in effect for rural Ellis County
Myers said he is not a big fan of the burn ban but emphasized it’s necessary for public safety. He recognized some residents are eager for the restriction to be lifted.
"It's my job as a fire service to help protect our community. Having that burn ban in place does limit when people can burn and what they can burn," he said.
During a burn ban, open burning of yard debris, pastures, ditches and other materials is restricted. However, normal household trash can still be burned in a barrel with a protected screen cover.
Myers said many fires begin as controlled burns that reignite days later, potentially spreading and putting surrounding properties at risk.
Myers said the ban will likely be lifted once stable weather conditions reduce the risk of grass fires spreading across the county.
"I just need that moisture, and I will be happy to lift the burn ban," he said.
As of the release of the last drought map on April 10, Ellis County was listed as abnormally dry to being in moderate drought. The updated drought map will be released today, but the county has received no rainfall in the last week.
Ellis County is under a red flag warning until 9 tonight.
Hays has a 30 percent chance of rain forecast for Friday with chances increasing through Sunday.