Storm Spotter Training this evening (Thursday) from 6:30-9:00pm at the American Legion located at 3669 S. Legion Ln. Columbia, MO 65201.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR BOONE COUNTY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation is expected. Ice accumulation from freezing rain of up to one tenth of an inch is expected with little in any snow accumulation is expected. * WHERE...Boone County, MO * WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 AM CST Wednesday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The ice will result in difficult travel conditions. Be prepared for reduced visibilities at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Weather Advisory is issued for a variety of winter weather conditions, such as snow, blowing snow, sleet, or freezing drizzle and rain. It only takes a small amount of wintry precipitation to make roads, bridges, sidewalks, and parking lots icy and dangerous. It is often difficult to tell when ice begins to form, so do not be caught off guard. In Illinois, call 1-800- 452-4368 for road information. In Missouri, call 1-888-275- 6636 for road information.

We're introducing a new team we have here at the Boone County Fire Protection District! Fire captain Martina Pounds and her explosive detection K-9 Luke are now serving the community!

Here's a few more pictures of firefighters at work from the residential structure fire on Mount Hope Sunday morning. See below post for details regarding the fire.

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday morning fire destroys Boone County home On Sunday, February 18, 2018 at around 06:14 a.m. the Boone County Fire Protection District responded to a residential structure fire in the 6800 block of Mount Hope. When first units arrived on scene they found a single story home roughly 75% involved with flames coming through the roof. Firefighters made contact with the homeowners in the yard who had exited the home safely. Firefighters were challenged with keeping water supplied to the scene due to the lack of water sources in the area. The fire district dispatched six tanker trucks to assist with shuttling water to the fire. In total, the fire district used around 45,000 gallons of water to contain and extinguish the fire. The home is considered a total loss. BCFPD investigators are still in the process of determining a cause of the fire. No firefighters and or occupants of the house were hurt. However, two family pets were lost. It took firefighters nearly two hours to get the fire under control. Personnel remained on scene for five and a half hours. The fire district dispatched 3 engines, 6 tankers, 1 rescue squad, a BHC-EMS ambulance and several chief officers to the scene. The homeowners are currently being supported by family members. (Photo credit: Boone County Fire Protection District)

Topics for February Fire Training include a refresher on ropes, knots, patient packaging, and low angle slope evacuations.

Updated drought conditions across the state show very dry conditions. Keep that in mind if you're considering outside burning. (Image: US National Weather Service Saint Louis Missouri )

Pictures from the 2017 fall recruit academy.

Before you leave this morning, take the time to clear ALL the ice off your windows. Missouri state law says driving vehicles where the driver's view of the road is obstructed is illegal. No one wants to start Sunday off with a ticket.

PSA: You're out driving in the winter weather and you see a car with caution tape on it. What do you do? No need to do anything! The caution tape means the vehicle has been checked by first responders and there's no need to call 911. Be safe out there, roads are slick and the fire district has already responded to several crashes this afternoon. Conditions are forecasted to get worse this evening through Sunday morning.

..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR BOONE COUNTY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Freezing drizzle with some light snow expected. A light glaze of ice accumulation is expected. A dusting of snow accumulation is possible. * WHERE...Boone County * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Saturday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Be prepared for reduced visibilities at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Weather Advisory is issued for a variety of winter weather conditions, such as snow, blowing snow, sleet, or freezing drizzle and rain. It only takes a small amount of wintry precipitation to make roads, bridges, sidewalks, and parking lots icy and dangerous. It is often difficult to tell when ice begins to form, so do not be caught off guard. Call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) for road information in Missouri.

MEDIA RELEASE: Explosives detection K-9 joins the Boone County Fire Protection District The Boone County Fire Protection District announced Friday a new team member to assist with keeping Boone County safer. The new team, K-9 Luke and fire fire district Captain Martina Pounds, have joined K-9 Brass and Officer Joan Haaf from the University of Missouri Police Department as an Explosives Detection Team. These Explosives Detection K-9 Teams work closely with the local bomb squads doing sweeps of many local venues before fans and visitors arrive. Luke and Captain Pounds have been assisting our local and regional law enforcement partners during events on the University of Missouri campus, venues in Jefferson City as well as other venues around the county for special events. Luke’s training was conducted as a joint effort between the Boone County Sheriff’s Department and the Boone County Fire Protection District. Luke is a 3-year-old German Shepherd mixed breed. Luke has been conditioned to detect multiple types of explosives compounds and residues. Captain Pounds and Luke completed the Basic K-9 training course with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department K-9 training program and became certified in tracking and explosives detection through the Missouri Police Canine Association in September 2017. The MPCA certification of a team is only valid when the handler is commissioned by a law enforcement agency and the K-9 team is being utilized by a law enforcement agency. The certification is valid for one year then recertification is required. Both K-9 teams will provide a media demonstration of their abilities Friday, Feb. 16, at 10:00 a.m. This demonstration will be held at the old Boone County Fairgrounds located at 5212 North Oakland Gravel Rd, Columbia, MO 65202. For more details please contact Captain Martina Pounds at 573-489- 4945 (Photo courtesy: Boone County Fire Protection District and University of Missouri Police Department)