Ebenezer Fire Protection District

Happy Birthday to one of our Assistant Chiefs, Heath Dalton!

He’s as “The Man, The Myth, The Legend” as it gets around here, and if you spend much time around any of us, you’ll hear a good Heath story in no time!

We’ve seen him rip gates apart by hand to access burning buildings and operate flaming chainsaws in the midst of some high stakes wildfires. We’ve seen some real Dukes of Hazzard shenanigans out of him a few times when we’ve had to make it across rural fields when seconds count.

In all seriousness though - Heath has built our technical rescue teams as his own passion project to better the district and save more lives. He’s invested himself wholeheartedly in our rope and water rescue programs, and is becoming a leader not just in our own district but across the county. He might be inching his way towards AARP as the crews reminded him today, but he’s the first to challenge them to a mile run, fit test, and some push ups.

Heath lives the fire service ethics and is the first to help someone catch a dog, move a couch, or whatever “extras” we might get called to or just happen across ourselves. More than once he has dropped everything where he’s at and ran his own personal car or ATV to a call, when he knew he needed to just get there fast and help out. In fact, we’ve seen him run so fast he ran right out his shoes.

Our district is better because we have a Heath, and therefore so is our community. So thank you, Heath - for everything you do - and Happy Birthday!

***Now we’re going to go back to pretending we don’t like you.

35 years ago last week Ebenezer Fire Protection District was established by voters. It consumed the Ebenezer Community Volunteer Fire Department. While there is much history for a different post on the membership department, this is the anniversary of the Fire Protection District. The district has since grown in many ways. Thank you to the community for your continued support after all these years! The original Elected Board Members were Leonard Suiter, Bob Wagner, and Larry Skelly. Original Fire Chief was Nelson Prewitt. We are grateful for the leadership of the 3 original Board Members who have sadly passed. Nelson Prewitt is serving as Chief currently. Chief Prewitt has served 30 years with the district, 26 of those as Chief.

Crews were called to the Noble Hill Landfill today after trash and equipment caught fire. There were no injuries. The landfill was closed/taking only limited drop offs for several hours.

Under the red, white, and blue lights with Code Red Media 🇺🇸

Crews were stacked with multiple calls over night. While on a structure fire in Fair Grove, 2 water rescue calls came out back to back in the district. Water rescue crews still in district responded to these.

The first victims on Hwy 13 quickly made it to safety in slow moving water.

The 2nd vehicle had went into flood waters on CC Hwy and floated downstream with one male occupant. As the pickup became submerged, he climbed onto a nearby tree. Ebenezer units deployed our thermal drone and quickly located the victim. Springfield Water rescue team was called to assist originally due to low remaining manpower in the district. The drone lead the rescue crews to the victim and he was quickly rescued from the stream. No medical attention was needed.

Other area rescue teams were working additional calls on the area and arrived on scene to assist as needed.

Thank you to the following for all the assistance:
Springfield Fire Dept
Willard and Battlefield Fire District’s.

Our prayers for the family from the structure fire with their loss of one individual.

C Shift has been busy with PR events the last few days - stopping by both Glidewell’s VBS and Willard Intermediate North’s Summer School 🚒

Ebenezer responded to assist Morrisville Fire early yesterday morning. Our hearts are broken for these children and our thoughts are with their families 💔

BREAKING NEWS: 2 children die in a house fire near Slagle, Mo.: https://www.ky3.com/2026/06/03/2-children-die-house-fire-near-slagle-mo/

We would like our residents to know that we are currently working alongside legal counsel regarding the recent claim made by RE Smith.

Ebenezer Fire Protection District denies any liability regarding the claim. Once we file a response, it will become public record and be viewable by the public. At this point we have no further comment.

We will continue to keep our citizens apprised as we are able.

On Your Side: Fire departments in the Ozarks adjust operations as fuel prices climb: https://www.ky3.com/2026/05/06/your-side-fire-departments-ozarks-adjust-operations-fuel-prices-climb/