The Kronkosky Foundation, Peterson Foundation and Stevens Foundation came together to support Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department in their purchase of a new fire engine last month.
The purchase could not have come at a better time as the spring season has arrived, bringing with it the possibility of grass fires - or as Bandera saw a few weeks before, fires due to human error.
“Castle Lakes is growing,” Chief Paul Miller said. “With that growth is the need to have equipment suitable for structure fires. We have assets to deal with brush fires and to provide water to fires, but we did not have a dedicated piece of equipment for structure fires.”
The opportunity to purchase a new engine suitable for structure fires came from the Bulverde Fire Department, who put the engine up for sale.
“We needed a specific kind of engine because of where we are,” Miller went on to say.
Castle Lake VFD members celebrate their new fire engine, made possible by the donations of three area groups.
“This is a rural area, and so the great big fire engines you see in Boerne, for example, that kind of apparatus is not suitable for here at all. It’s too big and cannot fit in the small spaces.”
While Chief Miller said the price for the engine was reasonable, it would be the biggest expense their department has ever made.
In order to afford the engine, Chief Miller requested permission from the city board to pull out a loan.
“With much debate amongst the board, the firefighters, and the community, they elected to move forward,” Chief Miller said. “But The Peterson Foundation first came through and provided us the downpayment for the truck [40k]. That was followed by a donation from The Stevens Foundation and just this past week, The Kronkosky Foundation. With their contributions, we will have the truck paid off by the end of this year, as opposed to having to pay back the seven-year loan we took out. We also received generous donations from private individuals from our community.”
“Volunteer fire departments, like Castle Lake Ranch, are vital to the safety of rural communities,” Laura Vaccaro, CEO of the Kronkosky Foundation said. “They show up—day or night—to protect lives, homes, and land with courage and heart. Supporting this new fire truck is about more than equipment; it’s about investing in people. We’re proud to collaborate with others, like the Stevens Foundation and Peterson Foundation, to amplify our impact and shed light on the role volunteer first responders play in keeping our communities safe.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of the Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department in keeping the community safe,” said Brian Oehler, Manager of the Hal & Charlie Peterson Foundation. “This grant is our way of supporting their efforts, and we’re proud to help provide them with the equipment they need to protect people and property in emergencies.”
Because Volunteer Fire Departments are run by non-salaried, unpaid employees, there is always a need for donations.
In the next few weeks, the VFD will hit the streets for their “boot drive.”
You can also come support Castle Lakes Volunteer Fire Department in the fall for their annual turkey shoot. The best shot takes a turkey home! All proceeds go to upgrading and the general upkeep of their equipment.
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