Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
Nov 2014
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The Observer/Enterprise July 1, 2011

IN THE BLACK
 
Over 30% of Coke County is "In The Black"! Before the 
Wildcat Fire, the average Coke County citizen 
may not have known what the phrase "in the black" meant. 
It is the phrase firefighters and emergency personnel use 
to describe land that's been burned. 

The Texas Forest Service, the United States Forest Service 
and numerous volunteer fire departments joined with the 
Robert Lee and Bronte Volunteer units to battle the blazes, 
all of which were located in extremely rough terrain. Many 
of our county officials, employees, private contractors and 
volunteers put in over 24 hours at a time fighting these fires. 

The cost to Coke County for the Wildcat Fire was $96,830.08. Of 
this, hopefully 75% will be reimbursed. All of the expenses for 
the Dos Amigos and White Hat Fires are as yet not calculated. 

New tires and numerous repairs are needed or have already been 
done for the local emergency vehicles and equipment. Fortunately, 
Coke County does not have to pay for flight time or the fire 
retardant used for Air Attack. 

Coke County Judge Roy Blair is the County's Emergency Management 
Coordinator. In the last two fires, Incident Command was kept 
localized while fighting in or near Coke County. It was either 
handled by Coke County Sheriff Wayne McCutchen, Chief Deputy 
Randall Jacks, Deputy Brandon Neal, Deputy Trey Davis, Deputy 
Emmett Crisp, or Ed Zimmerman of RLVFD. The County is currently 
looking into appointing a full-time Incident Commander. Due to 
the heroic efforts of the firefighters, no primary residences were 
lost in any of these fires. 

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