Joes Fire Department

03/26/2026

Smoke is visible today from large wildfires in Nebraska.

Residents may notice smoky conditions or the smell of smoke throughout the day. This is expected due to wind patterns carrying smoke into our region. Please use caution while traveling in haze as it can make it difficult to see.

Please only call 911 if you observe an active fire, flames, or an immediate emergency.

We ask residents to refrain from contacting emergency services solely to report smoke smell or haze, as these conditions are related to the out-of-state wildfire.

Please note that we also have high wind speeds today increasing our local fire danger. Use caution when working outside to avoid activities that could cause a spark.

03/20/2026

Attention Yuma County Residents: To ensure the safety of our community and reduce the strain on our local fire departments, a Burn Ban is in effect until March 27th.

Why the ban?
We are expecting multiple Fire Weather Watch days and potential Red Flag conditions over the coming week. These conditions make wildfires extremely difficult to control.

Moving Forward:
Once the ban is lifted, please remember to call W-Y Communications BEFORE you start any controlled burn. This allows dispatch to verify if conditions have changed and prevents unnecessary emergency deployments.

03/17/2026

Attention Yuma County Residents:

Tornado siren testing will begin this Friday, March 20th at 8:00am. After this first initial test, sirens will continue to be tested weekly on Fridays at 8:00am until the tornado season is over.

Atención a los residentes del condado de Yuma:

Las pruebas de la sirena de tornado comenzarán este viernes 20 de marzo a las 8:00 a.m. Después de esta primera prueba inicial, las sirenas se seguirán probando semanalmente los viernes a las 8:00 a.m. hasta que termine la temporada de tornados.

03/13/2026

Smoke and ash visible today are drifting into the area from a large wildfire near Lake McConaughy in Nebraska.

Residents may notice smoky conditions or the smell of smoke throughout the day. This is expected due to wind patterns carrying smoke into our region.

Please only call 911 if you observe an active fire, flames, or an immediate emergency.

We ask residents to refrain from contacting emergency services solely to report smoke smell or haze, as these conditions are related to the out-of-state wildfire

03/04/2026

Yuma County Emergency Alert System Update

Yuma County is no longer using CodeRED services. We have transitioned to a new emergency notification system called Hyper-Reach.

To continue receiving important emergency alerts, residents must enroll in the new system.
What you will receive:
Emergency alerts and public safety notifications
Severe weather alerts
Evacuation notices and urgent community updates

Notifications may be delivered by phone call, text message, or email during hazardous or urgent situations.

Who should enroll: All residents and individuals who live or work in Yuma County. Please register using your local address to ensure you receive alerts relevant to your area.

How to sign up: Call or text 970-360-8077
Or Visit: http://hyper-reach.com/coyumasignup.html

01/15/2026

⚠️ Attention Y-W Electric Members ⚠️
Strong winds are forecasted for Thursday and Friday in Yuma and Washington Counties. To reduce the risk of wildfire ignition during these conditions, Y-W Electric Association is placing our electric system into Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings.
What does this mean?
This safety mode is designed to lower fire risk if a power line is damaged. If a power line trips (shuts off), Y-W Electric crews will not re-energize the line until the entire affected line has been visually inspected for damage.
How could this affect you?
Members may experience longer outages than usual. Inspections can take additional time due to:
• Difficult-to-access line locations
• Weather conditions that slow inspections
Why we’re doing this
Our goal is to continue providing reliable electric service during high wind event while taking responsible steps to reduce wildfire risk and protect our communities.
How you can prepare
We encourage members to evaluate their individual situations and prepare for the possibility of an extended outage, especially if:
• You rely on electricity for medical needs
• You raise livestock or operate essential equipment
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our members and communities safe.

01/06/2026

Tonight we honored our retired Chief Calvin Sanford for 11 years as our leader. A lot of things have happened in his tenure as chief. We could not have asked for a more dedicated leader and brother to serve with. Thank You Calvin for all your years of service and dedication to these communities.

12/17/2025

Attention all farmers, due to the forecasted lack of moisture and strong winds lasting until Thursday night, the fire risk in Yuma County is high. If you have access to a disk and tractor, please connect it today to be proactive in the event of a wildfire. During this strong wind event, the County and Fire Departments would greatly appreciate your support and assistance in fire suppression if a large wildfire does start.

We sincerely hope that no fires break out during these windy conditions.

12/10/2025

Coming up this saturday!

11/29/2025

🎅🏻🤶🥞 Breakfast with Santa🎅🏻🤶🥞

Saturday December 13th at 8 AM come enjoy some Free breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee. Feel free to come in Jammies!
Santa will arrive at 9 AM. An Ornament craft will be available!
See you there! Spread the word!

06/30/2025

06/29/2025

Reminder: next Saturday is coming quick. We cant wait to see everyone!