Chapel Hill Volunteer Fire Department

09/02/2026

Two weeks after the Smith County Burn Ban was issued, there have been 95 outdoor burning reports countywide.
Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue gave an update to Commissioners Court on Tuesday, September 1.
During the first week, there were 58 outdoor fire incidents, and 37 incidents during the second week.
He said the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has written 13 citations for both weeks, but he did not know how many were issued by other agencies in the county.
As of Tuesday, the average Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Smith County was at 735 – an increase from 705 he reported a week ago. The KBDI ranges from 0 to 800 and is used to determine forest fire potential.
Hogue said Smith County does have rain forecasted for the next couple of days but he doesn’t believe it will be enough to lower the KDBI and fire danger significantly. He said if the tropical storm brings heavy winds, it could lead to fires being harder to extinguish.
The Commissioners Court issued the “Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning” on August 18.
The burn ban order is in effect for 90 days, unless conditions improve, and the Commissioners Court approves terminating the order early.
Fire pits or any form of outdoor burning is prohibited.
There are exceptions to the burn ban. People are still allowed to cook food in a grill or smoker that contains all open flames and have enclosed lids. Professional welding operations are allowed but all welders must notify and register with the Fire Marshal’s Office before welding outside and follow specific guidelines.
The order also does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, such as firefighter training; public utility, Texas Department of Transportation operations, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; planting or harvesting agricultural crops; or some prescribed burns.
A violation of the burn ban is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
Smith County, as well as area fire departments, have placed signs around the County, as well as billboards, to alert residents about the burn ban.
For more information, please call the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office at 903-590-2655 or visit www.smith-county.com and click on the red banner at the top of the homepage.

City of Tyler Fire Department
Smith County Emergency Services District 2
Lindale Fire Department
Arp Volunteer Fire Department
Bullard Fire Department
Winona Volunteer Fire Department
Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department
Flint-Gresham Fire Department

08/25/2026

From July through September, the leading causes of preventable wildfires in Texas are debris burning and equipment use - which includes farm equipment and lawn mowers. Follow these tips when working with heavy equipment:

🚜 Keeping your equipment clean and free from debris, oil, and grease buildups will help prevent your equipment catching fire.
🚜 Keep a fire extinguisher on each piece of heavy equipment and ensure operators are trained in their use.
🚜 Avoid idling equipment on dry grass or vegetation, as the heat from the equipment can ignite a fire.
🚜 Have a spotter on-site who can monitor for signs of ignition and respond quickly if a fire starts.
🚜 If possible, schedule heavy equipment work in the early morning when temperatures are cooler and humidity levels are higher, reducing the risk of ignition.

🔥 Protect your land. Protect Texas, Prevent Wildfires.
👉 Learn more: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/.../prevent-wildfires/equipment-use/

08/25/2026

One week after the Smith County Burn Ban was issued, there have been 58 outdoor burning reports countywide.
Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue gave an update to Commissioners Court on Tuesday, August 25.
He said the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has written three citations and three warnings, but he did not know how many were issued by other agencies in the county.
Although parts of the county have received recent rains, several days in triple-digit temperatures dried it out quickly, Hogue said.
As of Tuesday, the average Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Smith County was at 705 – an increase from 661 he reported a week ago. The KBDI ranges from 0 to 800 and is used to determine forest fire potential.
The Commissioners Court issued the “Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning” on August 18.
The burn ban order is in effect for 90 days, unless conditions improve, and the Commissioners Court approve terminating the order early.
Fireworks, fire pits or any form of outdoor burning is prohibited.
There are exceptions to the burn ban. People are still allowed to cook food in a grill or smoker that contains all open flames and have enclosed lids. Professional welding operations are allowed but all welders must notify and register with the Fire Marshal’s Office before welding outside and follow specific guidelines.
The order also does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, such as firefighter training; public utility, Texas Department of Transportation operations, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; planting or harvesting agricultural crops; or some prescribed burns.
A violation of the burn ban is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
Smith County, as well as area fire departments, have placed signs around the County, as well as billboards, to alert residents about the burn ban.
For more information, please call the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office at 903-590-2655 or visit www.smith-county.com and click on the red banner at the top of the homepage.

08/20/2026

Since the Smith County Commissioners Court issued a burn ban Tuesday, the Smith County Fire Marshal and Deputies have been posting burn ban signs throughout the county to help spread the word.
The burn ban order is in effect for 90 days, unless conditions improve, and the Commissioners Court approve terminating the order early.
Fireworks, fire pits or any form of outdoor burning is prohibited.
There are exceptions to the burn ban. People are still allowed to cook food in a grill or smoker that contains all open flames and have enclosed lids. Professional welding operations are allowed but all welders must notify and register with the Fire Marshal’s Office before welding outside and follow specific guidelines.
A violation of the burn ban is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
For more information, please call the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office at 903-590-2655 or visit www.smith-county.com and click on the red banner at the top of the homepage.
Smith County Emergency Services District 2
Lindale Fire Department
Arp Volunteer Fire Department
Bullard Fire Department
Winona Volunteer Fire Department
Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department
Flint-Gresham Fire Department

08/18/2026

The Smith County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday, August 18, to issue a 90-day burn ban for the county.
As of Monday, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Smith County was at 661 and is expected to go up to 668 on Tuesday. The KBDI ranges from 0 to 800 and is used to determine forest fire potential.
Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue reported that the county has seen an increase in grass fires and there are no significant rain chances for the next 10-14 days.
“Rain chances for the next couple weeks show a couple days with 20-24 percent chance of rain,” he said. “Temperatures remain high and fire danger is high. I believe it has become necessary to enact a burn ban.”
The Commissioners Court issued the “Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning.”
The burn ban order is in effect for 90 days, unless conditions improve, and the Commissioners Court approve terminating the order early.
Fireworks, fire pits or any form of outdoor burning is prohibited.
There are exceptions to the burn ban. People are still allowed to cook food in a grill or smoker that contains all open flames and have enclosed lids. Professional welding operations are allowed but all welders must notify and register with the Fire Marshal’s Office before welding outside and follow specific guidelines.
The order also does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, such as firefighter training; public utility, Texas Department of Transportation operations, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; planting or harvesting agricultural crops; or some prescribed burns.
A violation of the burn ban is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
Smith County, as well as area fire departments, will work on placing signs around the County to alert residents about the burn ban.
For more information, please call the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office at 903-590-2655 or visit www.smith-county.com and click on the red banner at the top of the homepage.

08/18/2026

As of 08/18/2026, Smith County, Texas is officially under a Burn Ban. No outdoor burning is allowed.

07/05/2026

What a turnout at the Boulders! 🇺🇸 The Chapel Hill Fire Department was honored to support the 4th of July fireworks show and celebrate America's 250th birthday alongside our amazing community.
Dispatches didn't wait for the celebrations to end, though. Immediately following the show, CHFD units were split and sent to multiple wildland and structure fire calls throughout the area.
We are incredibly grateful for our hardworking personnel who jumped straight from community celebration to emergency response. Please help us keep Chapel Hill safe—be mindful of dry conditions and fire hazards this weekend! ❤️🚒

06/15/2026

🚨 Chapel Hill VFD at the 150th Annual SFFMA Conference! 🚨

This past week, members of the Chapel Hill Volunteer Fire Department traveled down to Waco for the historic 150th Annual State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas Training Conference & Convention.

Our crew stayed busy keeping our skills sharp, pushing their physical limits, and bringing the latest tactics back home to our community.

🔥 Taking on The Gauntlet 🔥
A huge shoutout to one of our department officers who stepped up and competed in The Gauntlet! Pushing through the grueling physical demands of this competition takes incredible grit, and they represented Chapel Hill VFD flawlessly on the big stage.

📚 Advanced Training Sessions
While they weren't competing, our members were in the classroom tackling high-stakes, modern challenges, including:

Lithium-Ion Battery Storage & Energy Response: Navigating the unique dangers and evolving tactics needed to handle battery fires safely.

Red Lights, Blue Lights, Gunfights: Tactical strategies and scene awareness for when emergency calls unexpectedly turn violent.

Street Side Stork: Managing emergency newborn delivery and childbirth in the pre-hospital setting.

🏆 A Massive Congratulations to Josh Bardwell! 🏆
The conference also marked an incredible milestone for a familiar face. Huge congratulations to Josh Bardwell on being named the 2026 SFFMA Firefighter of the Year!

Before taking on his current position with the Texas A&M Forest Service, Josh served our local community right here as a Lieutenant for Smith County ESD2 and spent an impactful part of his early career with us at Chapel Hill VFD. We couldn’t be prouder to see his dedication to the Texas fire service recognized on the state stage.

Thank you to our community for your continued support, which allows our members to attend these vital training events. We are back, fully trained, and ready to serve! 🚒💪

04/27/2026

Be prepared for severe weather and other emergencies by signing up for Smith County’s Rave, a mass notification system.
By signing up for this free and easy service, you will receive severe weather alerts by phone and email from the U.S. National Weather Service, as well as other emergency alerts in Smith County.
From imminent threats to life and safety, to sheltering information, we have you covered with Rave.
It will take less than a minute when you sign up by using the QR code!
Smith County Sheriff's Office
Smith County Fire Marshal's Office
Smith County Community Emergency Response Team
Doc Deason's Weather
Smith County Emergency Services District 2
Lindale Fire Department
Arp Volunteer Fire Department
Bullard Fire Department
Winona Volunteer Fire Department
Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department
Chapel Hill Volunteer Fire Department
Flint-Gresham Fire Department

04/21/2026