Fires
May 20, 2026 Horseshoe Fire
At approximately 3:45 pm Chief Edna Queen toned out the DMRVFD to a possible lightning strike fire in the vicinity of Tomahawk and Crazy Horse Trail. A DMR resident reported seeing smoke on her way home from work. Units were dispatched to look for smoke or flame but initially the smoke could not be seen. Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Honeycutt decided to go talk to the neighbor who reported the smoke to get clarification on the vicinity. A drive to higher elevation at the end of Tejas Run allowed a better view and a small column of smoke and flame could be seen down at the end of Tomahawk Trail. Fire Fighters were again dispatched to the location and six fire fighters hiked up the mountain to the dead tree that had caught fire. The fire was contained using shovels and 5 gal back pack pump bladder bags to wet down the tree and put out the fire. The Forest Service was stationed in Fort Davis so they arrived and sent some of their men to simply inspect the scene as winds are expected to increase overnight. Thank you to all our volunteers who responded. As usual please stay vigilant in reporting any possible smoke or fire.
BTW, AC Kevin Honeycutt named it the Horseshoe Fire because he found a horseshoe near the scene.
February 24, 2026 Point of Rocks Road Fire
On 2/24/26, around 3:30 pm there was a call on the radio reporting a fire by the point of rocks picnic area spotted by someone driving by. Dispatch called Fort Davis but as we are closer, I called in our fire fighters in to help. Two team assisted the Fort Davis VFD, B71 and B73. This was the first fire for our newest firefighter, Larry Davis. The others, Ed Eaton, Art Fitzgerald and Ray Queen had not fought fire in almost a year. This fire was excellent training for our team to be able to roll up to the station, suit up and head out. It turned out to be a grass fire started by people burning trash in the Largent ranch area. We were so lucky; the winds were blowing strong from the west and blew the fire toward the rocks and not toward the grass land. This could have easily become a major grass fire.
Reminder, Jeff Davis Co is under a burn ban. No burning of trash or ground fires etc. is allowed. Burning during a red flag day is even worse. Fines can be issued. Violation of the burn ban is considered a class C misdemeanor. Please exercise more caution as we enter our windy season. If you see anything, please call 911 immediately, the sooner we respond the more likely we can get a head of the situation.
Edna Queen – Fire Chief
June 14, 2025 Tuly Fire
June 13, 2025 – at 4:46 pm – There is a lightning strike fire in Tuly Canyon behind the DMR. Fort Davis and DMRVFD will continue to monitor. DMR is not under threat at this time. Please stay vigilant and report smoke or fire. Rhonda Brown Honeycutt
June 13, 2025 – 5:54 pm – We were toned out today for a fire FDVFD, MDVFD and DMRVFD responded. FIRE was on top of the mountain very difficult to get to. We had to pull firefighters because of lightning and storms moving in. Looks like it may get some rain on it as more information comes in. I’ll post. Cause of fire lightning strike. 10 ac. Fort Davis Fire Department
The rain might have knocked it back. Ft Davis is in charge if this fire and it is a wait and see what tomorrow looks like for now. Had to call the firefighters back due to lightning in the area. DMRVD Fire Chief Edna Queen
June 14, 2025 – 7:37am – No smoke on the fire this morning, TFS came in yesterday evening and will get boots on the ground and hopefully get around it this morning. Looks like DPS will help out with a chopper to get firefighters on top of the mountain. Roy Hurley
June 14, 2025 – 4:20 pm – Fire is 100% contained as it would happen we get around the fire line and a storm moves in and dumps lots of rain on it. Good job to our VFD’s and TFS. Roy Hurley
May 21, 2025 - Members of the Texas Forest Service Visit the DMR
Today, on May 21, 2025, members of the Texas Forest Service drove up to the DMR to hike up to the Cochise Fire location. That location makes for a perfect wildland firefighting training opportunity. We are always grateful for them to make the long drive out. Sooner or later they may the ones called on to fight fire in the DMR.
DMRVFD Chief Edna Queen
May 10, 2025 COCHISE FIRE
On Saturday afternoon, May 10, 2025, the DMRVFD was toned out at 4:30 pm for a fire in the DMR which was reported at property located at the end of Cochise Canyon Trail on private property. Chief Edna Queen toned out Fort Davis Fire and called Jeremy Williams the Fort Stockton Texas Forest Service representative. He arrived right away and ordered three SEATS (single engine air tanker) drops of retardant Saturday evening.
We are very fortunate conditions were favorable so that the SEATS attack could drop retardant during the daylight window before the planes were ordered back to ground. However, Jeremy Williams (TFS) was still concerned about the fire and stayed the night in his truck at the DMR fire department. Jeremy kept watch as he was worried the fire might build again if winds were to pick up.
On Sunday morning, May 11, 2025, we had a large contingent of assistance arrive in the DMR. A Strike Team from TFS arrived with approximately 25 men who would be “boots on the ground” to fight the fire in the canyon. The Alpine Volunteer Fire Department sent a 5-person crew to assist if needed. This was their first time in the DMR!
Sunday also saw more SEATS attacks of six more retardant drops and six water drops. Sunday was extremely busy at the fire department. There was no way to get trucks to the location. We had to use our UTV’s, our personal UTV’s and one hybrid Toyota (lol) to shuttle the men to the trailhead location which was over a mile past the property owner’s gate. The UTV trail to the drop off location had many switchbacks, elevations, steep downhill roads, and narrow draws! The mileage each way was almost 4 miles! The UTV’s were weighed down coming and going! After the drop offs, the hand crews had to hike at least another mile to the fire. As one fireman said, he hugged a tree on the way down to keep from falling!
Fire creates its own weather and this morning we saw classic fire behavior as the temperatures rose, and humidity levels dropped. Spot fires popped up and we had a couple of new plumes to get under control.
As the Texas Forest Service pulled away on the afternoon of Monday, May 12, 2025, they turned the responsibility of the fire back to the DMRVFD and the DMR community.
Wednesday morning, May 14, Asst. Chief Kevin Honeycutt, Captain Bert Lagarde and Firefighter Rhonda Honeycutt drove to the trailhead and Bert and Rhonda hiked down to the fire location to do some investigation and check for hot spots. They found the heel of the fire, the flanks and the ignition location where lightning struck a dead Ponderosa Pine. Remnants of the shattered and scorched pine and the hole the TFS dug to make sure the dead roots were not burning underground.
Now let’s talk about what could have happened……
If the winds had been higher and humidity levels lower and higher heat, the fire would have run up the saddle of the canyon to the ridge of the mountain. Then we would have had a huge fire on our hands. If winds had shifted from the NNE to the South or West, fire could have run back to the DMR and then structures would have been threatened.
We will continue to monitor the fire’s location throughout the coming week. It’s predicted to get hot and windy. Perfect weather for fire and red flag days.
As a department, we want to thank all our volunteers who have been at the station all weekend. Our firemen spent many trips shuttling the TFS hand crews back and forth to the location. Our support team members have been cooking and cleaning and serving everyone involved. It’s great to have a hot meal at the end of the day after a long day’s work and the TFS crews really appreciated the efforts. Thanks to the community members who dropped off water and donations and delicious food…it is very much appreciated.
As a community we can NOT get complacent about fire. If you see smoke, smell smoke, call 911 immediately. Do not wait! Dispatch will not get upset if you call in a fire that has already been reported. Evey single minute counts with fire when we are trying to get resources out here to fight fire.
Thank you to Darryl Fellers and his mom Karen for reporting the smoke sighting.
Remember time is of importance. If you see or smell smoke or fire, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!
Edna Queen – DMRVFD Fire Chief
Rhonda Brown Honeycutt – DMRVFD Board President
