Efforts to raise funds for area Volunteer Fire Departments have resulted in a goal of $100,000 being reached. By September’s end, a soft date to reach the goal, Donna Klaeger, Director of Community Resource Centers of Texas exclaimed, “We made it!”
The number one priority of Highland Lakes Fire Departments, including the important Volunteer Fire Departments, is to prevent loss of life and property. VFD’s support local paid Fire Department personnel in emergencies, and their support is deeply appreciated. To the paid fire departments of our community, the support is essential. Chuck Schoenfeld of Cassie VFD explained, “The teamwork that we experience each time we come together is the key, and the support of community who provided these funds will allow us to replenish resources and help each other out any way we can.” Each VFD supports volunteers’ training and relies on professional equipment, staffing and organization. One does not have to imagine the struggle of organizations whose typical means of raising operational cash are fundraisers, public raffle sales, barbeques, golf tournaments, donations, and grants.
The Covid-19 virus has dealt many a local VFD “a bad hand,” leaving them lacking funds to upgrade fire extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus, and flood and rescue gear. The last items were critical on the “needs list” of Brooks Frederick, Fire Chief of the Sunrise Beach VFD and Dan Gower, Assistant Chief.
VFD leaders emphasize the importance of the training and experience of the volunteers. While the year 2020 has proved challenging, VFDs confront all challenges, and they all say, “Teamwork is the operative word; when we come together, we know it’s organized chaos, but we always get it done.” For example, Gower cited the insightful thinking of one group of firefighters sent out in brush trucks with an objective to mitigate the brush fire – they diverted upon seeing the line fires jumping the road toward houses that lacked defensible space, an area that can act as a barrier to encroaching fire. “They knew three homes were in immediate jeopardy, and due to their training and instinct, saved those homes.” Gower went on to emphasize the performance caliber and teamwork that exists between area VFD’s. Sunrise Beach plans to use the funds for fuel, replacement tires and maintenance of the fleet of attack vehicles. Fire Fighter Chuck Schoenfeld of Cassie VFD, relayed what he and his Chief, Derrick Curtis, say after every fire: “We will help each other out any time we can.”
At the long awaited check celebration event on September 30, 2020 at Horseshoe Bay City Hall, HSB Fire Chief Brent Batla presented an oversized photo-op, in the form of a $100,000 check to exuberant attendees. His message was simple, “We deeply appreciate this support and are proud of the job done during the firefight that day.”
