LCRA, PEC award $24,000 grant to Kempner Volunteer Fire Department
New emergency gear will help firefighters respond more quickly
JUNE 6, 2024
KEMPNER, Texas – The Kempner Volunteer Fire Department plans to equip a fire engine with new equipment that is scheduled to arrive soon, thanks to a $24,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $8,842 in matching funds from the VFD, will enable the department to add a thousand feet of hoses, nozzles, adapters, ladders, flashlights, axes, bolt cutters and more.
“We are in the process of purchasing a second-hand fire engine with no equipment from the Killeen Fire Department,” said Doug McKinney, assistant fire chief. “It will be housed at Station #3, which was built two years ago in the northern part of our district. Our goal is to have a fully equipped fire engine available so we can provide better quality of service to our community members.”
The department has one large brush truck housed at Station #3, but must bring in a fully equipped fire engine from a different part of town to respond to emergencies in the area, which can cause delays in getting firefighters and equipment where they are needed.
“Time is of the essence in emergency situations,” McKinney said. “We call it the ‘golden hour.’ From the time an incident starts, we have one hour to mitigate it, stop the incident and complete emergency care.”
He said that with the fully equipped fire engine nearby, Kempner VFD can respond to emergencies faster and help save lives and properties.
Kempner VFD serves the 108-square-mile area in the Kempner fire district, as well as provides mutual aid to other districts including Copperas Cove, Lampasas, Adamsville, Lometa, Oakalla and the Burnet County Emergency Services District.
The community grant is one of 44 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. Pedernales Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
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.
About PEC
Founded in 1938 by then-Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, Pedernales Electric Cooperative Inc. is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 400,000 meters across the Texas Hill Country. An industry-recognized leader providing outstanding member service and reliable electricity, PEC conducts its business via a transparent and democratic process and encourages member participation.
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