The Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department will purchase new emergency equipment and make improvements to its fire station thanks to a $20,236 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative.
The grant, along with more than $5,000 in matching funds from the department, will allow the VFD to replace aging tools and equipment, improving both safety and operational efficiency.
The department plans to purchase battery-powered saws and water tank level indicators for its fire trucks and make station upgrades, including energy-efficient LED lighting, ceiling fans, and a tankless water heater.
“This grant is a major boost for our department,” Fire Chief Paul Miller said. “Our station is 50 years old and in great need of modern improvements. With these new tools and equipment, we’ll be able to respond to emergencies more quickly and effectively, reducing property damage and keeping our neighbors and volunteers safe.”
Miller said modern, efficient tools help firefighters respond faster and more effectively to fires and other emergencies.
“Grants like this one from LCRA and Bandera Electric Cooperative are essential because they allow us to invest in capital equipment that we simply couldn’t fund on our own,” he said. “This support ensures that we can continue providing reliable emergency services to our community for hopefully the next 50 years and beyond.”
The Castle Lake Ranch VFD serves parts of Bandera, Kerr, and Kendall counties and maintains seven mutual aid agreements with surrounding departments.
The grant is one of 41 recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program, which provides funding twice a year to communities in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water, and transmission service areas.
Bandera Electric Cooperative is a wholesale electric customer and partner in the program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra. org/grants.
.png)
