VIENNA — The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department responded to 22 calls during the month of February, according to Fire Chief Mike Smith, who said the department has seen an increase in activity in recent years.

Smith said the calls included responses within the department’s district as well as mutual aid assistance to neighboring communities.

“We had 22 calls in the month of February,” Smith said. “That included our calls plus mutual aid assist that we provided.”

Some of those calls included assistance to nearby departments, including responses to neighboring Belle and a longer distance response to help multiple other agencies in Bay.

“We went to Belle two or three times to assist,” Smith said. “And then we had the one big one at Bay where that winery burnt, so we provided water for that fire also.”

Smith said increasing call volume is part of a long-term trend for the department. Smith also said seasonal conditions often contribute to grass fires during late winter and early spring, particularly when vegetation is dry and before new growth begins.

“With the dry vegetation that we’re going to get this time of year, it happens also at the end of summer going into fall,” Smith said. “But in the spring you get that dry vegetation before it turns green.”

Smith also encouraged residents who plan controlled burns to notify dispatch in advance so emergency crews are aware of the activity.

“If they would notify dispatch and let them know they’re going to have a controlled burn, it saves us a lot of gas money from running to where that’s a controlled burn,” Smith said. “If they call that number and report it, then we know it’s controlled until they call back and say it’s out of control.”