LCRA awards $6,649 grant for swift-water rescue equipment

New gear will help Lockhart Fire Rescue stay safe, improve response during water rescues

May 5, 2022

LCRA representatives present a $6,649 grant to Lockhart Fire Rescue for new swift-water personal protective equipment. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Ryan Bergerson, assistant fire chief; Rick Arnic, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Chris Kelley, firefighter; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Jamesy True, firefighter; Randy Jenkins, fire chief; Chris Germer, fire engineer; and John Hernandez, captain.

LOCKHART, Texas – Thanks to a $6,649 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority, Lockhart Fire Rescue will purchase four sets of swift-water personal protective equipment and other rescue gear. The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $1,665 in matching funds from the City of Lockhart, will equip the department with additional protective equipment so first responders can respond quickly and safely to swift-water/high-water rescue emergencies. Fire Chief Randy Jenkins said swift-water rescue gear is needed more than ever in Lockhart. “We are getting more extreme weather events, including flooding, and with the population growth and land development, the potential for water rescues has increased,” he said. During swift-water rescues, firefighters usually work in teams of two, Jenkins said. The department currently has limited gear and does not have enough gear for multiple teams to work at the same time. The grant will equip four firefighters simultaneously with new full protective gear, including helmets, wetsuits, personal flotation devices, rescue ropes and more. Lockhart Fire Rescue includes paid and volunteer firefighters and is a department of the City of Lockhart. Caldwell County does not have a dedicated swift-water rescue team and Lockhart Fire Rescue is often the first to respond to emergencies. “The quicker someone can get there and safely evaluate the situation, the better chance we have of helping citizens in need,” Jenkins said. The department’s primary coverage area is Lockhart, but it also provides mutual aid to the unincorporated areas of Caldwell County. Jenkins said the department had limited funds to put toward new equipment this year, so the grant is especially welcome. “Having these types of grant programs are really wonderful for first responders and the communities they serve,” Jenkins said. “We really appreciate the partnership with LCRA.” The community grant is one of 36 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. The City of Lockhart 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 July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.

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