August 17, 2025 - The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, along with several mutual aid departments, responded to a significant hay barn fire off of County Road 441 in Panola County on the morning of August 17 at approximately 9:30am.
Firefighters were dispatched to a barn that contained an estimated 150 to possibly 200 bales of hay. The structure was already fully involved in flames upon arrival. The location of the fire was within the jurisdiction of the Woods Volunteer Fire Department in Panola County, but Joaquin VFD arrived at the same time due to proximity.
Multiple departments provided mutual aid to contain the fire. These included Woods, Tenaha, Timpson, Huxley, Shelbyville, and DeSoto Parish Fire Departments. The joint effort lasted around five hours before the fire was brought under control.
Thanks to the coordinated response, the fire was contained to the barn structure itself. No other property was damaged beyond the barn and the hay. The Texas State Forest Service also responded and determined that a containment line would be placed around the site. The remaining fire will be allowed to burn out safely over the next several days.
