Castle Lake Ranch VFD receives grant

A $17,331 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative will help the Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department purchase new emergency equipment for its firefighters.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,333 in matching funds, will allow the department to purchase a variety of new equipment, including an automated external defibrillator and a self-contained breathing apparatus system.

The equipment will help protect firefighters and help prevent the loss of life and property.

“Receiving this grant supports the growth of our fire department and will help increase our response capabilities,” said Fire Chief Paul Miller. “Without this grant, it wouldn’t be possible to get most of the equipment we need.”

Miller said it only has been a couple of years since Castle Lake Ranch VFD acquired its first and only tanker truck to transport water to a fire scene. The addition of that truck has allowed firefighters to respond to more structure fires throughout the service area, but it also created a need for additional structure firefighting equipment.

Castle Lake Ranch VFD’s service area, spanning more than 26 miles, includes the Pipe Creek area and the counties of Bandera, Kerr and Kendall through mutual aid agreements.

“Our job as firefighters is to serve the people in our community and the surrounding areas,” Miller said. “Our firefighters are looking forward to using the new equipment during training exercises and emergencies. Having the appropriate equipment will help us provide better emergency services while keeping our firefighters safe and the community protected.”

The community grant is one of 32 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bandera Electric Cooperative 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/cdpp.