Fire at Safari Park; Owner Kicks Firefighters Off Land
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An early morning fire at the Safari Park in Crockett County brought some unwanted help. A dozen firefighters and deputies from the sheriff’s department were told to go home. The fire destroyed a barn on the Safari Park grounds. Several people driving on Highway 412 called 911 and the fire department responded. “We sent ’em home because we had it contained and we didn’t want any fire, you know, trucks up here scaring the animals with the noises and things,” said park manager Claude Conley. 12 firemen were on the scene with four units.The fire was not out when the firemen left the property. A source said the fire was “rolling”. According to Alamo Fire Chief Timmy Williams, Conley denied three requests to help put out the fire. “I can not confirm or deny any harm to any animals because we were not allowed back at the location,” said Fire Chief Williams. Conley said none of the animals were hurt in the fire. The fire was outside of the city in the county. If the fire department had worked on the fire it would have cost a homeowner $500. “If they cannot pay, if insurance doesn’t cover it we are going to respond to any call, that is something that is after the fact” said Williams. Conley had to sign a release before the firefighters left the property. “As soon as they got here there were so many trucks and everything. We had animals on each side of the pens here it was just too risky to let hoses out here and have all the men out here,” said Conley. Williams said he was surprised at the move to send his men home from the burning structure. He called this something new. “We packed our stuff up and brought it back to the station,” he said.
