Blue River Fire Dept

Blue River Fire Dept Blue River Fire Dept., Inc. is a volunteer fire department and BLS non-Transport service located in Howard Township, Washington County, Indiana.

We currently have 9 active volunteer members and respond to an average of 40 fire, medical and other emergency calls per calendar year.

03/25/2026

Smoke in the area is due to a large controlled burn in the O'Bannon woods. With the wind direction smoke is heading into Washington County.

02/19/2026

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 10
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
115 PM EST Thu Feb 19 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of
Southeast Illinois
Southern Indiana
Western and Central Kentucky

* Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 115 PM until
900 PM EST.

* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorm development is anticipated this afternoon
from southeast Illinois into southern Indiana and western/central
Kentucky. In these areas, increasing low-level moisture will lead to
airmass destabilization. Strong vertical shear is in place,
supporting the potential for some of these storms to organize into
supercells. All severe hazards are possible with any supercells that
develop, including very large hail greater than 2" in diameter and
tornadoes. Low-level shear is strong enough to support the potential
for a strong (EF2+) tornado.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 75 statute miles
north and south of a line from 50 miles west of Evansville IN to 50
miles east northeast of Louisville KY. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU0).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

Everyone please be weather aware.
02/19/2026

Everyone please be weather aware.

New update just minutes after I posted the last. Much of Washington County has been upgraded to a level 3 with a greater possibility of tornadic activity. A conference call will be held at 11am and the posts will be updated then

09/23/2025

From the Washington County Commissioners: The Washington County Burn ban has been lifted.

Quick reminder as we go into the weekend.  The county wide burn ban remains in effect.
09/19/2025

Quick reminder as we go into the weekend. The county wide burn ban remains in effect.

A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Washington County.
09/15/2025

A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Washington County.

The Washington County Commissioners have issued a County-Wide Burn ban:

DISASTER EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA
BURN BAN

Date: 09/11/2025

WHEREAS, Washington County, Indiana is immediately threatened by a natural disaster-specifically county wide drought condition, and,
WHEREAS, as of the 11th day of September 2025 at 11:15 hours we find that Washington County to be at risk of widespread fire hazards because of ongoing drought conditions and.
WHEREAS a county wide burn ban affecting certain activities is an appropriate public safety response to the fire hazards presented by the current drought conditions.
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Washington County Board of Commissioners, declare, pursuant to the provisions of IC 10-14-3-29, that a state of emergency exists in the County and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the County for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Washington County.
We also declare that effective immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Washington County:
1. Campfires and other recreational fires, unless they are enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter X 10 inches high or larger; in a cleared area.

2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane. Charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.

3. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, results from building construction activities.
In addition, we strongly encourage our residents to attend public displays of fireworks and limit their personal use of fireworks to those that do not leave the ground, and that they refrain from using aerial firework devices.
Reference is hereby made to all appropriate laws, statutes, ordinances, and resolutions and particularly to Section 10-14-3-29 of the Indiana Code.

All public offices and employees of Washington County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in ex*****on of emergency laws, regulation, and directives whether state or local.
All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.
All operating forces will direct their communications and requests for assistance and operations directly to the Emergency Operations Center.
This Disaster Emergency Proclamation shall be in effect until September 19, 2025. At that time the Washington County Board of Commissioners shall revisit the emergency to decide if the need for extension of the emergency proclamation is necessary.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand on this 11th day of September 2025.
WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:

08/24/2025
05/16/2025
01/07/2025

Washington County is no longer under a Travel warning/state of emergency. County roads do have some issues, but are passable. Thank you to the County Highway Department for getting us to this point!! That have worked their tails off and continue to do so!!! We remain under a Travel watch. Use caution when out and about!

01/06/2025

Washington County is now in a travel Warning status. Emergency travel only.

"Temporary County Wide Disaster

Winter Storm - Emergency Travel Restriction

01/05/2025

NOW THEREFORE, we, the Washington County Board of Commissioners, declare, pursuant to the provisions of IC 10-14-3-29, that a state of emergency exists in the County and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Indiana Code which are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this proclamation, to be in full force and effect in the County for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Washington County.

We also declare that, effective immediately, the effect of this declaration is to:

Declare a Travel Warning, during which travel shall be restricted to emergency personnel only. (Further and more specific restrictions upon travel and parking may be included here.) During a Travel Warning, all citizens are called upon and directed to refrain from all travel, to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperative with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Reference is hereby made to all appropriate laws, statutes, ordinances, and resolutions and particularly to Section 10-14-3-29 of the Indiana Code.

All public offices and employees of Washington County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in ex*****on of emergency laws, regulation, and directives whether state or local.

All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers."

Address

5279 S Becks Mill Road
Salem, IN
47167

Telephone

+18124729080

Website

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