Fire at Ozark Shavings

The Licking City/Rural Fire Department responded to a report of a fire inside of a building at Ozark Shavings on Staples Lane on Saturday evening, June 3, at approximately 8:36 p.m.

Two engines and two tankers responded from the Licking City/Rural Fire Department, with a total of eight personnel. A command post was established and a ladder truck was requested to respond from Houston City Fire. An engine and tanker were requested from Raymondville Fire Department, and a pumper/tanker from Houston Rural Fire Department. An additional 12 firefighters came from those three departments.

Licking Fire Chief Aaron Greathouse reported a hopper was burning from the inside. The ladder truck was required to suppress the fire. Port-a-tank operations and water shuttle operations were completed, with the fill location being at the Licking Fire Station.

A Texas County Memorial Hospital (TCMH) Ambulance responded for rehab and standby, and one firefighter was transported to TCMH for observation.

The fire was considered under control at approximately 10:35 p.m., but firefighters remained for overhaul and mop up. Approximately 45,000 gallons of water were used at the scene.

The command post was terminated early Sunday morning, at approximately 12:09 a.m., and all units were placed back in service.

“I would like to personally thank the Licking Chamber of Commerce for donating bottles of water and hamburgers to the firefighters. I also want to thank the following agencies for assisting us: City of Licking Police Department, City of Licking Water Department, Houston City Fire Department, Houston Rural Fire Department, Raymondville Volunteer Fire Department, Texas County 911 and Texas County Memorial Hospital. The Licking City/Rural Fire Department is 100 percent volunteer (along with many of these other agencies). I appreciate everyone that came out to help with this fire on an already packed Rodeo weekend.” – Aaron Greathouse, Fire Chief.