Ozark Fire Protection District

09/05/2026

What do your local firefighters do on a Saturday during a holiday weekend, you might ask?

They train.

Today, we had the opportunity to host Insight Fire Training and Max Fire as our firefighters learned about the latest Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) technology and how to better utilize these tools on the fireground.

What makes today’s training even better is the partnership behind it.

Our friends at the Nixa Fire Protection District opened their training facility to help make this training possible. Partnerships like this allow us to share resources, train together, and ultimately provide better service to all of our communities.

We want to thank the continued partnership from all the agencies that have come to learn. Springfield, MO Fire Department, Republic Fire, Bolivar City Fire Department.

Training doesn’t stop because it’s Saturday. It doesn’t stop because it’s a holiday weekend. Our firefighters understand that the skills we develop today may make the difference for someone tomorrow.

Each day, we try to be just a little better than we were yesterday.

Thank you to our instructors, our regional partners, and especially the members who continue to invest their time in honing their craft and preparing for the next call.

Ozark Professional Firefighters Local 152

09/01/2026

NO OUTDOOR BURNING

Effective immediately, the Ozark Fire Protection District is issuing a No Burning Notice for the District due to continued hot, dry conditions and the increased risk of fire spread.

Until further notice, residents are asked to refrain from all outdoor burning, including:

Brush and debris burning
Yard waste burning
Agricultural burning
Bonfires and other open burning activities

Dry vegetation and the lack of recent rainfall have created conditions where fires can spread quickly and threaten property and public safety.

This notice will remain in effect until conditions improve. The District will continue to monitor weather and ground conditions and will provide updates as needed.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping protect our community.

The Ozark Fire Protection District provides fire rescue, suppression, and fire safety resources for Ozark, MO, and Christian County, MO, residents. We supply emergency services to the cities of Ozark, Fremont Hills, and other unincorporated portions of Christian County.

08/07/2026

Following a residential fire this evening, our Battalion Chief caught a picture of this rainbow and Ladder 11.

It is hard when someone has a fire in their house, but thankfully they made it out safely. Our firefighters contained the fire to the garage and located two cats and reunited them with their family.

It was encouraging to see the neighborhood support and help the family during a tough time. This was a reminder we live in a great community and it’s our honor to serve.

07/31/2026

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - ASSISTANT CHIEF OF TRAINING

As part of our ongoing growth and commitment to serving our community, Assistant Chief Heaton has moved into a new leadership role as our Assistant Chief of Operations.

We are now seeking an experienced leader to serve as our next Assistant Chief of Training. This position oversees professional development, firefighter safety, EMS programs, and Duty Chief responsibilities.

Application Deadline: Friday, August 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM CDT

For more information, visit https://www.ozarkfire.org/career-center or contact Fire Chief Jarett Metheny at [email protected].

The Ozark Fire Protection District Careers Center is hiring dedicated individuals to join its team and serve the Ozark community. Located in Christian County, Missouri, the department offers a variety of benefits and exceptional work-life balance with its 48/96 work schedule. Apply today!

07/30/2026

Some of you may have noticed the recent progress, but we wanted to share a few photos showing the work underway on the Ozark Fire Protection District's new Training and Maintenance Facility, as well as the future home of our burn building.

The newly poured concrete pad marks an important milestone in a larger project that will provide the district with a dedicated burn building and a modern Training and Maintenance Facility.

This investment represents more than just new buildings. It is an investment in our firefighters, their safety, and the citizens we serve. These facilities will allow us to conduct more realistic training, maintain our equipment more efficiently, and better prepare our members for the emergencies they face every day.

We are grateful for the continued support of our Board of Directors and the community as we continue building for the future of the Ozark Fire Protection District. Stay tuned as construction progresses. There are exciting things ahead!

Ozark Professional Firefighters Local 152

07/27/2026

The Ozark Fire Protection District’s monthly Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, July 21, was attended by a large crowd as several members were recognized for their service and dedication to the District and the community.

Assistant Chief Aaron Heaton was recognized for his work in organizing the District’s swiftwater rescue team deployment to Reynolds County to assist with flood rescue operations.

Captain Paul Winking, Engineer Dustin Cutbirth, and Firefighter Wyatt Fritz were also recognized for deploying to Reynolds County and assisting with rescue efforts during the flooding.

Firefighter Kendra Anthony was recognized for her leadership and dedication in coordinating and leading this year’s Citizens Fire Academy.

The District also welcomed four new firefighters. Luke Gordon, William Ellis, Gabe Hynson, and Dom Bratcher were officially sworn in by Board President Will Reynolds and had their firefighter badges pinned on by family members.

We appreciate the strong community support shown by those in attendance and congratulate each of these members on their recognition and service to the Ozark Fire Protection District.

07/15/2026

A huge thank you to the Region D resources that deployed to assist Missourians in need. We are thankful for the experience gained and the help we were able to provide.

Again, our thoughts remain with the citizens and responders who continue to recover from this flooding event.

Ozark Professional Firefighters Local 152

Firefighters share their story as they respond to major flooding in Missouri.

07/13/2026

Over the weekend, crews from the Ozark Fire Protection District, Branson MO Fire-Rescue, Purdy Fire Protection District, Battlefield Fire Protection District along with Cox SRG deployed as a Region D Strike Team in response to the historic flooding in Iron and Reynolds Counties, Missouri.

Together, Region D deployed 7 command vehicles, 3 rescue boats, and 11 personnel to support search, rescue, and recovery operations. During the deployment, the strike team searched and documented approximately 15.72 miles of flood-impacted areas, marking 33 campers, 20 vehicles, and 3 collapsed structures.

Immediately upon arrival, Region D crews were assigned to conduct swift water rescue operations at a nearby bridge where reports indicated victims were in the water. After completing those operations, the team transitioned into wide-area search and recovery efforts.

On the second day of the deployment, crews were assigned the difficult task of searching overturned campers, documenting and marking flooded vehicles, UTVs, and ATVs that had been swept away by the floodwaters, and conducting searches of collapsed structures. These operations required close coordination among multiple agencies while working in hazardous conditions left behind by the flood.

We would like to thank all of the personnel who deployed as part of the Region D Strike Team, as well as the members who remained behind to continue serving their own communities while supporting this mission. Their professionalism, teamwork, and willingness to answer the call are a testament to the dedication of the fire service.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the citizens of Iron and Reynolds Counties, as well as the responders who continue the challenging work of recovery following this historic flooding.

Ozark Professional Firefighters Local 152

07/08/2026

What a fun evening celebrating the 2026 Citizens Fire Academy!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BqFasUrCf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/07/2026

Ozark Fire District is accepting sealed bids for 4-gas monitors. Please go to the link below for the PDF, or go to https://www.ozarkfire.org/documents under Bid Requrests & Reports for more information.

https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/21e5405e2e5

Stay connected with Ozark Fire Protection District via our community forms and documents page. Ozark, MO, and Christian County residents can access, view, and download forms right from our website.