Cabin burns at Apple Creek Inn, firefighters continue to battle blazes across the county

An unoccupied cabin at Apple Creek Inn in Isabella was heavily damaged during a March 19 fire. According to the Ozark County sheriff’s report, at 10:31 a.m. that Saturday morning, Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the property, along with Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department in mutual aid. 

The property features several rental cabins situated near each other, visible from Highway 160. The fire broke out in cabin #4. 

“With concerns of the fire spreading to other cabins and exposures due to the gusty winds, a blitz attack was executed resulting in a quick knock down of the fire,” the TAVFD posted on their Facebook page after the fire. “Thank you to Gainesville VFD, Ozark County Ambulance and OCSD [Ozark County Sheriff’s Department] for assistance.”

A “blitz attack” is a firefighting term that refers to a technique that includes a combination of both exterior water application and an interior offensive attack. 

This week’s sheriff’s report indicates that when the call was first reported to the dispatch office, the caller indicated that a propane heater had started the fire. 

Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Seth Miller spoke with the caller who said the cabin was not occupied and a hot water heater had been worked on the day before the fire, along with a small propane heater set on low. 

“When I arrived on scene, the back part of the cabin along with the attic were on fire, as well as the back inside wall,” Miller wrote in the sheriff’s report entry. “Owners believe the fire started from the propane heater located in the back part of the cabin.”

There were no serious injuries reported. 

Other fires

Volunteer firefighters across the county have also been battling brush fires and out-of-control burns again this week. These fires are listed in the Ozark County Sheriff’s report. 

• March 16, 3:31 p.m. - Brush fire on Highway 142 near Bakersfield. Bakersfield VFD and Tecumseh VFD responded.

• March 17, 1:36 p.m. - Vehicle accident and car on fire. Woman is out of the vehicle. Tecumseh VFD, South Howell Ambulance and MSHP responded.

• March 17, 3:17 p.m. – Brush fire on Highway 14 in Dora. Dora VFD responded.

• March 17, 10:21 p.m. – Brush fire on Highway 95 in Thornfield near the graveyard. Thornfield VFD responded.

• March 19, 10:31 a.m. – Structure fire in Cabin #4 at Apple Creek Inn in Isabella. Theodosia and Gainesville VFD responded. 

• March 20, 2:55 p.m. – Brush fire on County Road 863 in Theodosia. Theodosia Area VFD responded.

• March 20: 3:51 p.m. – Brush fire on Pinnacle Ranch Road in Wasola. Heading toward tree line. Wasola VFD responded.

• March 20, 7:07 p.m. – Brush fire on W Highway in Pontiac. Pontiac-Price Place VFD, Gainesville VFD and Oakland, Arkansas, VFD responded.

• March 20, 7:31 p.m. – Brush fire on County Road 614 in Pontiac. Pontiac-Price Place VFD responded.

• March 20, 8:04 p.m. – Brush fire on Aspen Drive. Dozer fire out of control and caught neighbor’s brush pile. Timber Knob VFD had no one available to respond, and Gainesville VFD was at another fire. Lick Creek VFD and Theodosia Area VFD responded.

• March 20, 9:20 p.m. - Brush fire on W Highway. Pontiac-Price Place VFD responded.

• March 20, 9:24 p.m. – Barn fire on N Highway. OCSD officers made contact with the owners who said they were burning the fields and caught the barn on fire. OCSD and Caney Mountain VFD responded.

Controlled burns

In addition to these fires, 41 residents called to notify the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and firefighting agencies that they were conducting controlled burns. Those who are burning are asked to do the same, call the sheriff’s department at 417-679-4633 to report that you are conducting a controlled burn. This helps dispatchers avoid calling fire departments out to controlled burns when neighbors or passersby notice smoke and call the sheriff’s office to report a fire. 

Pay your dues

The busy spring fire season is a good reminder that residents should pay dues to their local volunteer fire department and help support the departments through donations and participating in fundraisers. 

Dues, almost always under $100 per year per family, is one of the only ways local VFDs are able to buy gear and supplies used to fight fire in the county. Requests for dues are generally mailed once a year to members in the respective fire district.  

Almost all firefighters in the county are unpaid volunteers, who often leave their homes and families no matter the time of day, to help neighbors and friends in their most dire times of need. With rising fuel prices and limited budgets, it’s often the volunteers who also pay for gas to get to and from fires, wrecks, first responder calls and other emergencies. The Times staff applauds the service these dedicated men and women provide.