Queen City Community Fire Department

03/21/2026

URGENT: It is important to note, although spring weather is here, and the outdoors is calling you to come out and tidy up, light fires, and clear brush, shrubs and debris from your ditches, etc. please DO NOT! Controlled burns QUICKLY get OUT of CONTROL! One spark that lands in an unwatched area, can take off on its own and burn acres before personnel can reach it. Several local departments, including ours, have already been called out today. Please listen to the warnings. Thank you!

Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
1123 AM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026
..Critical Fire Weather Conditions Saturday Across NE Kansas and
NW Missouri...
Low relative humidity and wind gusts around 25 MPH on Saturday
afternoon, leading to critical fire weather conditions.

KSZ025-102-103-MOZ001>005-011>014-020-021-028-220300-
/O.CON.KEAX.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260322T0300Z/
Atchison KS-Doniphan-Leavenworth-Atchison MO-Nodaway-Worth-Gentry-
Harrison-Holt-Andrew-De Kalb-Daviess-Buchanan-Clinton-Platte-
1123 AM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHWEST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST KANSAS...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Kansas, Fire Weather Zones 025, 102 and
103. In Missouri, Fire Weather Zones 001, 002, 003, 004, 005,
011, 012, 013, 014, 020, 021 and 028.

* TIMING...Until 10 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

* WIND...Southwest around 15 MPH with gusts to 25 MPH

* HUMIDITY...Between 15 and 25 percent in the afternoon

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

03/19/2026

Many of us around the state and around the country woke up to news sunday morning that we did not want to see.

It is with heavy hearts that the Columbia Fire Department remembers Retired CFD Captain Billy Dean Hurt.

Billy Hurt served others for his entire life. From his early service with the Boonville Fire Department to his 25-year career with the Columbia Fire Department, where he retired as a Captain, Billy built a legacy defined by service and a steady commitment to helping people in their time of need and our Fire Service at large. Even after retirement, that sense of purpose never left him. It remained evident in his work at Alex, teaching extrication, and as a race safety crew leader and instructor. All of those retirement projects demonstrated his continued commitment to doing what he had always done so well: protecting others and bringing calm, capable leadership to rescue situations.

Those who knew Billy knew a man who cared deeply about people and our mission. He was respected for his experience, looked to for guidance, and remembered for his natural ability to connect with others. His obituary reflects not only a life of public service but also a life centered on family and relationships that reached far beyond any single organization.

On behalf of the Columbia Fire Department, I share this obituary with deep respect for Billy’s life, his service, and the example he set for others. We are proud to have had him as part of our department and proud of the way he continued to live out the values of service and rescue long after his formal career ended.

For those attending the visitation, service, and burial in the days ahead, we ask that you travel safely, look out for one another, and take time to honor and celebrate a life well lived in service to others. Billy Hurt mattered to many people, in many places, and he will be remembered with gratitude and respect.

- Brian Schaeffer, Columbia Fire Chief

01/11/2026

Have a happy and safe, New Year!!!
I'm a little late on this, and sending out some of the 2025 annual fire dues letters last year too. If members didn't pay ahead for 2026, annual dues letters will be sent out to members by the beginning of February. Information regarding Missouri rules and regulations are below, for those wanting additional information on the reasoning behind membership/subscription areas like ours.

Title XXI PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORALS

Chapter 320

< > • Effective - 28 Aug 1998
320.302. Nonmembers, association may respond to any emergency, exception — liabilities — fees. — 1. Volunteer fire protection associations may respond to any emergency within its area regardless of whether the property owner or individual is a member of or subscriber to the association.

2. In responding to emergencies of nonmembers or nonsubscribers of the association, the association and its firefighters shall be subject to the same liabilities for claims for death or injury to persons or property as those subjected to when responding to emergencies of members or subscribers.

3. In responding to emergencies of nonmembers or nonsubscribers, the volunteer fire protection association may charge up to the following fees:

(1) One hundred dollars for responding to an emergency;

(2) Five hundred dollars for each hour or a proportional sum for each quarter hour spent in providing emergency services; plus

(3) An amount equal to one year's subscription or membership fees. No property owner or individual shall be liable for fees or charges under this subsection if said property owner or individual notifies the volunteer fire protection association in writing, prior to the occurrence of an emergency, not to respond to an emergency on or involving his property.

4. Upon payment of the charges and fees set forth in subsection 3 of this section, the property owner or individual shall be deemed to be a member or subscriber in good standing until membership or subscriber payments are again due as prescribed by association rules and regulations.

­­--------

(L. 1986 H.B. 1418 § 2, A.L. 1998 S.B. 898)

08/09/2025

Former Chief, Virgil Schmitter, served our community for many years. He will be greatly missed. Rest easy.

View Virgil Leroy Schmitter's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/18/2025

Thank you to the Ocean City Fire Department for sending this our way when it went to you, by mistake! 😁👍 Annual fire dues will be counted now!

11/28/2024

Turkey fryers can be dangerous and cause a serious fire hazard. NFPA® and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) demonstrate the risk in using turk...

09/30/2024

It has been a tough weekend for the guys in Tennessee.

08/21/2024

Newark MO, Rural Fire Department Fire Chief Scott York died unexpectedly Thursday, August 15th. There will be no public service or visitation.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Scott's family - his wife and the department Public Information Officer Carol, along with his children and former firefighters for the department Marissa and Shelby. The family have a lot to process and appreciate the love, prayers, and thoughts you have for them. They appreciate your respect of their privacy at this time and continued support of the department.

Newark Rural Fire is grateful to Chief York for his years of dedication and service to the Department, our Mutual Aid partners, the Region B Chiefs Association, and Region B emergency services in general.

Godspeed. We have the watch from here.

07/27/2024

Parade time, getting lined up

07/08/2024

Our condolences go to Boone County Fire

It is with great sadness that I announce that Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Matthew Tobben died this morning during a swift water rescue operation.

Assistant Chief Matt Tobben was assisting the Columbia Fire Department during a swift water rescue operation at Rangeline Street and Bear Creek early this morning. The firefighters had rescued two individuals when the zodiac boat overturned and Chief Tobben was thrown from the boat and drowned. The Columbia Firefighter and the two victims originally rescued were able to be rescued and are doing ok.

Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

Scott Olsen, Fire Chief
Boone County Fire Protection District

07/01/2024

Fly high Kris.

Its with a heavy heart we share that Fire Chief Kris McCarty passed on from our ranks on this Earth on 6-28-2024. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Good Speed Brother. Rest Easy We got it from here.