Friday Winds Keep EPFD Busy

EL PASO, Tx – Friday’s windstorm kept emergency crews from the El Paso Fire Department busy throughout the city.

Lt. Mario Hernandez of the EPFD says firefighters responded to 39 wind-related calls, including five brush fires. One of those involved a major fire, where high winds hampered firefighters’ efforts to control the blaze.

Other emergency calls included downed wires and electrical poles, wind-blown debris on the road, and roofs damaged by the wind. Hernandez says no firefighters or civilians were reported injured in any of these emergency calls.

Because the windy season is here, fire officials want to remind the public to practice these safety tips:

-Inspect your home’s surroundings for items that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire.

-Make trees more wind-resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs.

-Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can become a projectile due to the wind.

-Slow down when driving and put enough distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you since blowing dust will lower visibility.

-Do not attempt to remove any electrical wires that fall on your homes and vehicles. Call 911 immediately.

-Be careful when driving near trucks, buses, and other large vehicles, and pay attention to travel warnings and bans associated with high winds.