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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'>PRESS
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>CITY OF <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">COMMERCE & HUNT</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">COUNTY</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Issued
by: Marty Cunningham, Commerce Public Information Officer, City of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Commerce</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>CURRENT
EXTREME WILDFIRE THREAT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Texas</span></font></st1:State></st1:place><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> has and continues to experience a
protracted period of intense and violent wildfires. Multiple and
continuous cold fronts across a wide area of the state characterized by
extremely high winds and record low humidity have created optimum conditions for
numerous spontaneous and violent wildfires. In the last 24-36 hour period
over 70,000 acres have been burned destroying in excess of 60 structures.
Over 75 fires remain active at this time. Extreme wildfire conditions are
expected to remain through the end of next week.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Hunt County Emergency Management
Coordinator Richard Hill along with City of Commerce Emergency Management
Coordinator Steve Harrison and Assistant Coordinator Tommy Eaton have been
involved with the state wide conference call held by Chief Jack Colley of the
Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, stating that 152 counties in
the state have been placed at a Level 1 State of Emergency. <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Hunt</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
is included in this threat and it is increasing daily with Tuesday of next week
being the highest threat date.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Currently <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Hunt</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
has a burn ban in place which prohibits all outside burning other than welding,
cutting and cooking. However, due to the current threat, the State of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place> and Hunt County
Officials are requesting that welding, cutting and outdoor cooking be
curtailed. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Hunt County Emergency Management
Coordinator Richard Hill and County Judge John Horn are asking that all
Volunteer Fire Departments and paid Fire Departments be at the highest state of
readiness. In addition, they are asking that local leaders encourage
employers who have employees who are members of local Volunteer Fire
Departments (VFD) to support the deployment of VFD’s to local fires by
allowing their employees to respond with their respective VFD. Local VFD’s
are our first line of defense and are essential to the protection of life and
property. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Charitable organizations such as the
American Red Cross and the Salvation Army personnel are busy throughout the
state and due to the conditions have limited resources. State and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Officials</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
ask that local citizens support these organizations and their efforts as
needed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>All County Wide Fire Chiefs are meeting
tomorrow February 2, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. at the Commerce EOC located at the
Fire/Police Department to discuss plans.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>For further information or questions
please contact the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Commerce</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Communications</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
at 903-886-1139, Marty Cunningham, Public Information Officer at 903-886-1125
or Hunt County Emergency Management Coordinator Richard Hill at 903-450-7001.</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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