Bluebonnet and LCRA representatives present a $19,869 grant to the Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department for new protective equipment. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left, are Kyle Ward, Mike Santucci and John R. Ertz, firefighters; Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA board member; State Rep. Stan Gerdes; Matthew L. ‘Matt' Arthur and Margaret D. ‘Meg’ Voelter, LCRA board members; Debbi Goertz, Bluebonnet Board member; Mark Mayo, LCRA board member; Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA regional affairs representative; Roderick Emanuel, Bluebonnet Board Vice President/Vice Chairman; and Josh Thomas, Bluebonnet’s Bastrop-area community representative.

Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department will soon purchase additional protective equipment to increase the number of firefighters who can safely respond to emergencies with the VFD, thanks to a $19,869 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The community grant, along with $5,159 in matching funds from the VFD, will equip four additional firefighters with gear such as special jackets, helmets and boots to fight wildland, vehicle and structure fires. Having more firefighters can help speed up response time and mitigate potential property damage, injury and loss of life.

“Without this grant, we would only be able to properly equip one of our four trained volunteer firefighters,” said James Lewey, Heart of the Pines VFD treasurer. “When something like a fire happens, our goal is to ensure that every trained first responder is able to quickly jump into action, and frankly new equipment can be very cost prohibitive.”

Heart of the Pines VFD provides emergency assistance to a 35-square-mile area in eastern Bastrop County. The department also provides mutual aid to other area departments and participates in Bastrop County wildland fire task forces.

“Because we are entirely made up of volunteers, there are times when our department receives emergency calls and not everyone will be able to respond,” Lewey said. “It’s vital that we have as many firefighters as we can that are properly equipped, and thanks to this grant we will be able to continue the training of four firefighters that will be able to respond.”

This is one of five grants recently awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Grants program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bluebonnet is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program. 

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/grants.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s Board of directors unanimously approved the grants during its September Board meeting and grants will be awarded in October.

“These departments are dedicated to serving Bluebonnet members and our communities," said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “Our lineworkers and control center operators appreciate the partnership and quick response of firefighters and first responders during emergencies. Their work is vital to keeping our members and employees safe.”

The grants will support the firefighters and first responders who devote their time, skill and courage to keeping communities safe. They help cover essential costs such as fuel, equipment, repairs and other critical needs identified by each department.

“Bluebonnet is honored to support our area fire departments, whose commitment to protecting and serving our communities is truly exceptional,” said Ben Flencher, Chairman of Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors. “The women and men who serve and volunteer with these departments deserve our deepest gratitude and continued support.”

Money for the fire department grants does not come from Bluebonnet members’ bill payments or rates. They are funded through unclaimed capital credit payments to former members that are returned to Bluebonnet from the State of Texas.