With half of the year 2011 in the history books, the Burton Fire District is analyzing its numbers as part of its strategic planning to ensure it is delivering, and prepared to deliver in the future, cost effective and efficient services.

[caption id="attachment_2504" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="The Burton Fire District has responded to more emergency calls from January to June 2011 than the same time period in 2010. Emergency medical and brush fires represent the sharpest increase."]<a href="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/News-Burton-Fire.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-2504" title="News-Burton Fire" src="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/News-Burton-Fire-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>[/caption]

So far in 2011 the Burton Fire District has responded to 1,426 emergency calls, already surpassing amount of calls from the January to June time frame last year. While the majority of responses are for emergency medical help with 873 responses, also an increase from 2010, the number of outdoor fires was the sharpest increase with 73 fires so far in 2011.
The Burton Fire District also responded to 109 motor vehicle accidents, 55 of which resulted in injury; Burton firefighters have also responded to just under 50 building fires since January which include providing assistance to fires within Port Royal, Beaufort and Sheldon.
Burton fire officials state that brush fires this year, some of which have caused damage to property and injury to residents, have been a particular concern.